OAU Students’ Union set to roll out Mental Health Programmes after Tragic Incident

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The newly inaugurated executive members of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union Government have announced plans to roll out mental health programmes for students following the death by suicide of a 200-level Dentistry student. The student took his life after discovering he had failed his recently released examination results.

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The Secretary-General of the Students’ Union, Habeeb Oke, said the union’s welfare office would spearhead the initiative. “The Welfare Office has plans for mental workshops and other events surrounding the subject matter,” Oke said. “This administration just came in a week ago. We are still outlining and compacting our plans together. When we have a concrete meeting, there will be a rollout of events from the office of the welfare regarding mental health and how students can cope with examination results.”

The union’s leadership described the incident as “an unimaginable event [that] has shaken us to our very essence, reminding us of the fragility of life and the immense pressures that students often endure.” They stressed that mental health challenges are real, and seeking help is a sign of strength.

The union urged students to take advantage of available support services, including confidential counselling services offered by the university health centre. “The union shall commit to advocating better mental health resources and destigmatising conversations around these topics. Remember, there is always hope, and help is a conversation away,” the statement added.

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The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, appealed to parents and guardians to help their children understand that “temporary setbacks in the pursuit of success are part of life and not the end of it.” He encouraged students to “view failure as an opportunity to redirect their paths towards success and greater achievements.”

This incident is not an isolated case, as the institution has recorded similar cases in the past. The Students’ Union’s initiative aims to address the growing concern of mental health among students and provide them with the necessary support and resources to cope with academic pressures.

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