JOURNAL OF EDUCATION (EKSUJOE)

ADOPTION OF RELIGIOUS COUNSELING TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL ISSUES OF CHILDREN AND ITS IMPACT ON DELAYED INTERVENTIONS IN DELTA STATE

Abstract

The thrust of this study was to investigate the adoption of religious counseling to psychopathological issues of children and its impact on delayed interventions in Delta State. The objectives of the study include: to ascertain the prevalence of religious counseling for children with psychopathological issues among parents/guardians in Delta State, explore the barriers to accessing professional mental health care, and examine the Impact on Delayed Professional Interventions. Research questions were formulated in line with the set objectives of the study. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A sample size of 384 was drawn from the population using the Meyer's sample size determination template. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Frequencies, percentages, and means were used in the data analysis. The study revealed that adoption of religious counseling for child psychopathology issues is overwhelmingly prevalent among caregivers in Delta State. The study also revealed that the high cost of professional treatment, distance to mental health facilities, belief that spiritual healing is sufficient, and pervasive stigma associated with mental illness were cited as a major barriers to accessing professional mental health care. The study recommends that policymakers/NGOs/Health Advocates should develop and implement culturally sensitive mental health literacy programs that can be delivered through churches, mosques, and traditional spiritual centers. The study also recommends that government should prioritize increased funding for child and adolescent mental health services, aiming to make assessment and initial treatment more affordable or even free. The study further recommends that the health body should train community health workers to identify early signs of psychopathology in children and provide initial guidance to caregivers on appropriate help-seeking pathways, including professional options.