MENTAL HEALTH, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR COUNSELING AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ONDO TOWN.

The study examined mental health, academic performance and awareness for the counseling among secondary school using some selected senior secondary schools in Ondo West Local Government Area as case study. Descriptive survey research dexign was adopted for the study The data for the study were collected with aid of a DSAA questionnaire through simple random sampling technique. A population of 200 senior secondary school students were used as sample for the study. One research hypotheses was tested with T-te stand rejected because the level of significant is less than 0.05 The result of the findings shows that mental health has significant Influences on the academic performance among secondary school students. The findings also revealed the high level of mental health, anxiety and depression among secondary school students. The study further shows the low level of students approaching the students counseling department in the school. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are made Incorporate mental health education into the curriculum to increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues among students. This education should cover topics such as stress management, emotional regulation, resilience building, and seeking help when needed. parents. Ensure that counseling services are readily available and accessible to all students. This may involve increasing the number of school counselors, establishing peer support programs, or providing online counseling options to reach students who may be reluctant to seek help in person. Establish peer support networks or mentoring programs where older students can provide support and guidance to their peers struggling with mental health issues. Peer support can be highly effective in reducing feelings of isolation and providing a sense of belonging