LEVERAGING AI TO SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL –BEING IN MUTASA DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Clara Kamwara, Sibongile Chituku, Odera Emmanuel Omondi and Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu*

ABSTRACT

The research study aimed at assessing the use of Artificial Intelligence in secondary school settings as a mechanism to enhance student's mental health and wellbeing. This study particularly focused on the case of Hartzell High School and Mt Chiremba Secondary School, which are situated in Mutasa district, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were; to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of AI-driven interventions in addressing mental health and well-being among secondary school students in Mutasa District, to analyze the prevalence and types of mental health related conditions among secondary school students in Mutasa District, to understand secondary school students' perceptions and attitudes towards AI-driven mental health interventions in comparison with the traditional counseling methods. The research is informed by the Social Cognitive Theory which is rooted on the idea that people learn through observation and imitation. The qualitative phenomenological approach was used to collect data through in-depth interviews with key informants and focus group discussions with both students and teachers. The main results from this research show that students from both school are suffering from various mental related conditions that result from several stressors, the two schools are a contrast of another with different levels of technology use and understanding, with Hartzell High School students having a better understanding and exposure to Artificial Intelligence compared to Mt Chiremba Secondary School students. The other notable result from the research was the zeal students from both schools and teachers to merge modern technology with traditional counseling methods towards solving mental health related issues amongst students. Again students are familiar to other AI technologies which they use for study purposes, in case of introducing AI tools that are powered to support students mental health it will not be a new concept difficult to use. Traditional counseling methods alone have failed to support student's mental health and wellness as some students fail to access these services due several reasons.The research study concludes by proffering recommendations towards enhancing the students mental health and wellbeing such as suggesting the integration of AI technologies into the traditional counseling methods in secondary school settings, advocating for the use of computers such that they may be accessible to each and every student with the teacher's supervision, constant checkups on students mental state to identify any mental issues at an early stage and respond with urgency.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, mental health, students, secondary school