INTRODUCTION:
There is an increasing burden of mental health issues and these issues often emerge in early adulthood, affecting many university students yet mental health services remain underutilized due to stigma and limited awareness. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and utilization of mental health services among undergraduates at the University of Lagos.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate students at the University of Lagos from August to November 2024. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 450 students. Tests of association were assessed using chi-square tests (p < 0.05).

RESULTS:
The majority of the respondents (72%) had good knowledge of mental health services, and medical students demonstrated significantly better knowledge (94.4%, scored ≥50% on knowledge metrics) compared to non-medical students (69.2%). Most of the respondents (66.6%) exhibited a positive attitude towards mental health services. Despite this, mental health service utilization was generally low, with only 23% of respondents reporting good utilization of these services. The study also identified gender, religion, ethnicity, highest level of education, and academic department as significant factors influencing mental health service utilization among university students.

CONCLUSIONS:
The study found that while university students generally had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward mental health services, utilization remained low. Few students engaged with these services regularly revealing a gap. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve service accessibility, promote help-seeking behavior, and address stigma and other barriers to utilization of mental health services.