Exploring the impact of mental health disorders on academic Performance among Makerere university students: a case study of College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between mental health disorders and academic performance of students at college of business and management sciences of Makerere University. The study has the following objectives; To explore the impact of mental health disorders on academic performance among Makerere university students. To examine the prevalence and type of mental health disorders among Makerere university students.To examine the academic performance indicator and evaluate the availability and accessibility of mental health services for students. A cross sectional study design was used in the study to establish the relationship between mental health disorders and academic performance, using Statistical Package called STATA 16. Study findings revealed that respondents who were highly affected by mental health disorders were aged between 20 to 25 years , with most the prevalent mental health problem being anxiety(40.41%) which significantly affected academic performance through a drop in grades(48,12%). Similar findings were reported by (environmental research and public health, 2021) which showed that most respondents were of age group 16 to 24 years,with the most prevalent mental health problem being anxiety (95.4%). Findings showed that accessibility to mental health services were reported to be somehow accessible(37.21%) which significantly affects academic performance with the most prevalent barrier to accessibility to mental health services being mainly decline in selfwoth(34.14%), In contrast the study findings showed that mental health disorders do not significantly affect academic performance of respondents. Basing on the study findings it can be concluded that school of statistics and planning at COBAMS, Makerere University were highly affected by mental health disorders.The academic performance of students of age group 20 to 25 years was significantly affected by mental health disorders.The study recommends active community education programs to counter stigma and improve knowledge of mental disorders and available services. Flexibility of mental health services enough to serve changing populations and to include services specific to ethnic groups, such as providing comprehensive care for students in order to improve their academic performance and their personal growth.Furthermore it recommends adaptation of locally simple tools to measure disorders which will enable us to distinguish disorder symptoms from clinical syndromes of disorder because management strategies are different.