Abstract

This study assessed the levels of undergraduates' health literacy, mental health, and attitudes towards help-seeking in public universities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design, which was guided by three research questions. The population of the study comprised all undergraduates in public universities (Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State University, and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science, and Technology). A sample of 450 undergraduates was selected for the study via purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Three adapted instruments: a Health Literacy Questionnaire (α=0.87), a Mental Health Questionnaire (α=0.91), and an Attitude towards Help-Seeking Questionnaire (α=0.84); which were hosted on a Web application, were used for data collection and analysed using descriptive statistics on the Hayes macro process in SPSS version 26.0. Results indicate that undergraduates have low health literacy, high mental health, and a negative attitude towards help-seeking. Rigorous enlightenment campaigns and programmes regarding general health, and help-seeking behaviours intensify in Nigerian universities and in society at large. Avenues and outlets for help-seeking should be made easily available and accessible to all students. Incentives should be provided for students who are favourably disposed to help-seeking. General health programmes should be infused into the curriculum of universities, especially those in Ekiti State.