The aim of this study was to investigate ICT utilization and its effects on the effectiveness of mental healthcare service provision in secondary schools in Northwest and Southwest communities of Cameroon. More specifically, the study explored the extent to which demographic variations in ICT use, telephone use, affect mental healthcare service provision effectiveness in secondary schools. The study employed the survey research design with a mix of both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire while a semi-structured interview guide and an observation schedule were used to collect qualitative data from a sample of 150 secondary school mental health professionals.The purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select the sample of the study. Data were analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 for Windows. Descriptive statistics such as simple percentages, mean scores and standard deviation, and inferential statistics such as the one sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA’s Ftest) and the Pearson Correlation test were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti software version 8.0. The findings revealed that demographic variations in ICT use (r=0.581, df=98, p<0.05), and the use of telephones (r=0.741,df=98, p<0.05) have a positive correlation with mental healthcare service provision effectiveness in secondary schools. Based on the findings, recommendations to trainers of mental health professionals, and mental health professionals on measures to enhance ICT integration in mental health research and practice, as well as suggestions for further studies were made.

Keywords : ICT Utilisation, Demographic Characteristics, Telephone, and Mental Healthcare Service Provision.