BACKGROUND:
Globally, Mental health of adolescents is a significant public health issue preventing many adolescents from reaching their full potential. Several socio-economic, cultural, and systemic factors make adolescents especially in Nigeria vulnerable.

AIM:
This study was conducted to assess the mental health status and identify risk factors of in-school adolescents in Community Secondary school Edagberi, Ahoada West, Rivers State, Nigeria.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional descriptive study among 231 in-school adolescents in Edagberi Better land community of Rivers State. Community Secondary school Edagberi is one of Renaissance Africa Energy Company formerly Shell Petroleum Development Company supported schools with a recently commissioned Sick Bay and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities. A self-administered questionnaire including GHQ12 was used to collect data. A score of ≥ 3 suggested poor mental while a score < 3 represented good mental health. Data were summarized using proportions, and 2 test was used to explore associations between categorical variables. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS:
Mean age of the respondents was 14.4 ± 2.13 years, 58.4% were females, 55.0% were from Junior class and 78.8% resided with their parents. Based on the GHQ categorization, 69(29.9%) had traits of poor mental health status, compared to 70.1% with good mental health status. Some commonly reported stressors were trekking long distance to school (54.1%), High transportation costs (51.9%) and family problems (49.9%). Predictors of poor Mental Health status in our study were low self-image /esteem (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.16 -4.16) and polygamous family type (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.24 -3.65) (p<0.05)

CONCLUSIONS:
With nearly one-third (29.9%) of adolescents exhibiting traits of poor mental health, the integration of age-appropriate mental health services into school health programmes is recommended, with particular emphasis on students experiencing low self-esteem and anxiety.