Figure 1
The constructivist conceptual framework was adapted from Bhavana and Vijayalakshimi (2021).
Figure 2
The pragmatist conceptual framework was adapted from Morgan (2014).
Table 1
Research participants’ characteristics.
| PSEUDONYM | AGE BRACKET | COURSE OF STUDY | PROGRAM OF STUDY | YEARS OF DISTANCE STUDY | GENDER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby | 50–55 | Business administration | Ph.D. | ≥4 years | Male |
| Benny | 50–55 | Business administration | Ph.D. | 4 years | Male |
| Frank | 30–35 | Business administration | Ph.D. | 3 years | Male |
| Jerry | 40–45 | Business administration | Ph.D. | 4 years | Male |
| Tina | 30–35 | Business administration | Ph.D. | 4 years | Female |
| Anita | 35–40 | Environmental Resource Management | Master’s | ≥2 years | Female |
| Rita | 25–30 | Cooperative and Rural Development Studies | Master’s | 3 years | Female |
| Justina | 25–30 | Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies | Undergraduate | 4 years | Female |
| Justin | 25–30 | Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies | Undergraduate | 3 years | Male |
Table 2
Significant participants’ quotes.
| THEME | QUOTE |
|---|---|
| Importance of Stable Mental Health | “The university and tertiary institutions need to understand that a clearer and stable mind is necessary for students to function in distance learning.” (Frank). “Positive and stable mental health is when you can do what should be done at the right time, and you do it right and how it should be done, and you are being calculative. You have a happy family life, and you can make and keep friends and relate well with them. Even when there is a misunderstanding, you can settle your rifts amicably.” (Anita). |
| Ubiquity of Mental Health Impairments | “Many students that I know struggle with mental health, but nobody likes to talk about their mental health status. Even if you have an-idea that a particular student needs help with mental health care, and you approach them, they are likely to tell you they have no problem. It is a normal life thing that most people don’t take or see as an issue. They will normalize it and say it is what society is, they will not talk about it” (Justin). “A lot of students are going through serious mental health issues, and this is coupled with academic stress and well-being; the university does not have any policy that I know of to help us. When we talk about mental health issues, people tend to brush them aside because it is not an open medical issue. In the end, students can’t cope with academic work and students can’t sit an examination. Students are flagged as having failed, not knowing that the students are dealing with accumulated social and mental health issues related to stress and depression.” (Jerry). |
| Creating and Publicizing Mental Health Support Services | “They do not talk about mental health, not the school, not the tutors. I just knew that I had to continue my studies no matter what and finish before they increased our school fees again. I do not want to abandon what I have started. I will describe the situation as a mental health policy vacuum. Is like nobody cares.” (Justina). “I am not aware of any detailed mental health policy put in place other than the mention of mental health generally during student orientation week shortly after admissions and resumption.” Apart from the general health care center, students are not properly educated about whom to talk to during any mental health emergency. Since I have been at this school, I have not seen any students who have visited the counseling department for mental health services. I know there are students with mental health impairments, but they do not come forward.” (Rita). |
| Talking About Mental Health Impairments and Destigmatizing Mental Health | “Mental health awareness among online students is generally poor, and online learning puts an additional burden on students because most of the time they are on their own. The inability of some students to cope with the academic demands of online learning can sometimes lead to mental health issues that nobody talks about. (Benny). “Student unions in concert with the Student Affairs unit should play a very big role through the organization of seminars, workshops, awareness education blitz, and general information sessions around the campus. The body should also organize department-to-department mental health awareness among students and maintain a huge online presence. Talking about mental health frequently both online and in virtual classrooms will encourage students to come forward and share their experiences, thereby propelling them to get help during mental health emergencies.” (Jerry). |
| Low Mental Health Priority | “None that I am aware of, not a single place or document. I am not aware of anything in school, and not on the website either. To be precise, it’s no. It is not even talked about anywhere; those who may need help do not even come forward. No, sorry, the answer cannot be no, because there are some, in this school, maybe a health center, I believe, there is someone there that can attend to students with mental health issues.” (Bobby). “In my own opinion, mental health policy among Nigerian Universities is not very encouraging. Most of these institutions do not have a committee that can tackle mental health problems among students. University authorities believe that mental health is a personal thing outside of the university’s influence. It affects students so badly that their time staying in school is just a waste. Most of them will not even graduate. Some of them will become delinquents, join cults, or even die in the process. The sad part is that the things affecting students are minor issues that the university can help with by just setting up a committee that can tackle those issues. I will call this committee a police officer or monitoring group to check, find out about students’ backgrounds, show them love, and help them to overcome their mental health problems”. (Jerry). “I know the university has a health center that covers and provides general health care for students, but I am not aware of any policy dedicated to mental health in the university. Mental health is not an area of high priority here for online students because we do not go to campus for lectures, and many lecturers do not even know us.” (Justina). |