MINDFULNESS BASED INTERVENTION COUNSELLING, STRESS REDUCTION AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AMONG YOUTHS IN CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, CROSS RIVER STATE – NIGERIA

This study was about examining the impact of mindfulness based intervention on stress reduction and mental health improvement as subjects. The purpose of the study was in specific terms to examine the mental health of youths, determine mental health and youth development on national development assess the benefits of counselling of youths among others. To achieve the purpose these research questions were raised,, is youth development in terms of mental health essential for national development; can youth’s development be enhanced by counselling? Among others, literature was reviewed on the variables of the study. The design of the study was survey research design which was considered appropriate as it allowed the researcher to make inference and generalized findings from the sample of the population. From the population of staff, a sample of 100 respondents was obtained through, the simple random sample technique. Data were collected using the structured questionnaire which was given face and content validity by the supervisor who vetted the items developed whereas, the reliability coefficient of the instrument was established through test-retest reliable method. Data were collected using the structured questionnaire. They were analyzed with simple percentage from the analyses the findings among others revealed that mental health is a challenge to youth, development in Nigeria. Based on the findings it could be concluded that mental health being a challenge to the youth development requires, counselling. Appropriate recommendations were made such as: Government and relevant bodies should consider mental health development as relevant to national development.