Tuesday 18-03-2025 - 10:29

A Story of Triumph Trumping Tribulation 

Sometimes, I feel like William Shakespeare was speaking directly to me when he wrote in Henry IV, Part II that “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” because more often than not, when I am faced with challenges, I find myself uttering that phrase, and there has not been a more recent quote that has the same effect on me. A crown is a responsibility, isn’t it? Embellishing when on the head, but heavy and requires a lot to keep. Mine is a responsibility to succeed against all the odds stacked against me and to help as many people as I can to find meaning in their lives, improve their psychological well-being, and unlock potentials as they maintain healthy relationships among their family, peers, and within the society. 

I come from a humble background, so working multiple jobs while studying was not a choice; it was a necessity. Nonetheless, this did not deter me from having excellent academic results and helping people through volunteering. As a schoolteacher in Nigeria, and as I volunteered with mental health organisations, I met and catered to young people with different mental health challenges, and this motivated me to seek further education internationally in mental health research. That is the crown I chose to wear, and heavy it is, because a student who could barely make ends meet now aspires to study outside his home country. Quite ambitious. 

Lofty ambition, good grades, and determination are simply not enough to travel abroad to study; therefore, without any financial support, I found myself at a standstill. I started applying for scholarships, and while I was unsuccessful in many attempts, I never lost hope. Eventually, I was able to raise funds to achieve this dream through the support of well-meaning individuals and my journey to the UK began with so much enthusiasm for my course—Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing at Edge Hill University.

Due to the financial challenges, I could not arrive in the UK early, and I missed the welcome activities organised by the school and some classes. Just like many international students, I also faced challenges arising from being in a new environment—like housing challenges and integration into the society. It left me feeling unsettled at first, but looking back now, I am glad I did not allow these to define my progress. Graduating with a distinction in my master’s degree is a testament to that. 

Although I have always engaged in different research activities and publications during my study in Nigeria, my interest in mental health research became even more solidified after attending a few classes here and presenting an assignment on innovation to the amazement of my lecturers and classmates. I started appreciating how research can be used to impact evidence-based policies, advance practice guidelines, inform future studies, and benefit mankind. I wrote my ideas down, crafted plans for research, and sought collaboration with colleagues and leaders in my field.

I received support from my lecturers, especially Dr. Shaun Liverpool, who always listened to my ideas and provided necessary guidance. Research projects usually start from original ideas or identification of gaps in previous research, but the inspiration for my recently published paper titled ‘Experiences and Outcomes of Young Carers Living in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review and Narrative Synthesis’ came from my personal experience as a young carer and secondary school teacher in Nigeria. 

As a schoolteacher, I found out that most of the students who were always on the disciplinary lists were young carers like I once was. It was either that they came late to school, missed classes, had attention deficit, or broke school rules. Some of them, especially the first-born children and the first male children, were exposed to working early morning before school time and right after school to fend for their families, and weekends are not spared. With my intervention through appropriate referrals, many of them were diagnosed with psychological issues ranging from anxiety to depression, and adequate support was provided. The findings from my published paper captured parts of my experience as I identified six factors impacting the lives of young carers, namely: caring responsibilities, social connections, socio-cultural expectations, early employment, education, and mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing.

During my study here at Edge Hill University, I also contributed to another published paper, ‘Mental Health Coping Strategies and Support Needs Among Marginalised Further and Higher Education Students in the UK: A Cross-Sectional Study’. As an international Black student, this paper resonates with me, as some of my coping strategies to overcome challenging situations include the succour I get from my spiritual connection to God through my religious practices, and keeping in touch with friends and family while recognising the need for more tailored academic and social support services and contemporary approaches to support mental health. 

I have learnt a lot through my research activities, and for every student reading this who may have an interest in research, here are a few nuggets that could help:

To achieve a good research outcome, identify what interests you and read more about it, especially previous research done in a similar field; reach out to and seek collaboration with lecturers to get support and insights; do not be afraid to seek mentorship; volunteer for research projects that can lead to other opportunities; and continue to persevere and improve in your research skills. 

I currently volunteer in the research department of a charity organisation in the UK, and as I continue to carry out research and participate in workshops focused on cutting-edge research techniques, I know that this heavy crown on my head cannot be dropped; neither can my neck be tired of the weight. One of my goals is to have mental health research drive policies, so I am currently seeking PhD opportunities while hoping to collaborate with like-minded professionals in the future to establish a mental health research institute where we influence policies and laws that are dedicated to providing services and support for people with mental health issues in the UK and in the low- and middle-income countries.