The Mental Health Needs of Today's College Students: Challenges and Recommendations

NASPA Journal ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Anne Kitzrow

This paper reviews the literature on the changing mental health needs of today’s college students and the challenges posed by both the growing number of students with serious psychological problems on campus and the increase in the number of students seeking counseling. The implications of student mental health problems for students, faculty, staff, and the institution are discussed, as well as some strategies for responding to the surge in mental health needs on college campuses.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-197
Author(s):  
Eirini Kotsalou ◽  
Evanthia Sakellari ◽  
Areti Lagiou ◽  
Evaggelia Kotsalou

Objective: The university medical services vary around the world (even within each university), but there are only a few publications on the utilization of these services by the students. The available on-campus services of public health care might include general health care, women’s centers, mental health care, disability services, wellness resource centers, career counseling, and alcohol and other drug education programs. Evidence Acquisition: This paper reviews the current literature on the overtime and current (due to Covid-19 pandemic) public health needs of college students based on studies that report the commonest specific diagnostic reasons for using the on-campus health care services. Results: Special reference is done on mental health problems among students generally and the students of health professions fields (a specific category themselves). Besides, other issues of interest are the substance-related problems among students and their perceptions about mental health problems and on- campus help- seeking services. Conclusions: It is unanimous that we need further educational and promotional campaigns to enhance the students; help-seeking behaviors, reduce stigmatizing behaviors and create more preventive public health services on campus, but also out-campus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Bao ◽  
Wen-Tian Li ◽  
Bao-Liang Zhong

Abstract Background Due to the implementation of social distancing and quarantine measures, loneliness has been a major public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have examined loneliness in Chinese residents during the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as its associations with mental health needs and services utilization. Methods The present study was a cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. A total of 7741 adults were invited and completed an online self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese 12-item General Health Questionnaire was used to screen for common mental health problems, loneliness was measured with a single-item self-report question (“How often do you feel lonely in recent days?”), and two standardized questions were used to assess perceived needs for and use of mental health services. Results In total, 24.2 % of the participants felt lonely in recent days. Age of 16–29 years (OR = 1.36, P = 0.020), marital status of never-married (OR = 1.47, P < 0.001), marital status of “others” (re-married, co-habiting, separated, divorced, and widowed) (OR = 1.72, P < 0.001), having infected family members or close relatives (OR = 1.64, P = 0.026), and having infected colleagues, friends, or classmates (OR = 1.62, P < 0.001) were significant correlates of loneliness. Rates of mental health needs (17.4 % vs. 4.9 %, P < 0.001) and services utilization (2.7 % vs. 1.0 %, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in lonely than not lonely participants. After adjusting for socio-demographic and epidemic characteristics and common mental health problems, loneliness was still significantly associated with mental health needs (OR = 2.50, P < 0.001) and services utilization (OR = 1.62, P = 0.020). Conclusions Feelings of loneliness are prevalent among Chinese residents affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and the presence of loneliness is associated with high levels of mental health needs and greater services utilization. Effective measures aiming at preventing or reducing loneliness are potentially beneficial for the mental wellbeing of COVID-19-affected population and reducing the use of the limited mental health service resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Zheng ◽  
Yuji Guo ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Liyan Luo ◽  
Bailiu Ya ◽  
...  

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a plethora of psychological problems worldwide since its onset in December 2019. In the upheaval period, compared with medical college students, nonmedical students' psychological state deserves additional concern due to their lack of medical knowledge. Although the epidemic in China has been largely controlled for several months, the mental health problems resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic persist to this day. In this study, we assessed the mental health problems and associated risk factors experienced by nonmedical vs. medical college students in universities of Shandong Province during the COVID-19 epidemic recovery period.Methods: An online survey was conducted over the period from 17 to 19 December 2020. A total of 954 Chinese college students (486 nonmedical and 468 medical students) from three universities of Shandong Province participated in the survey. Mental health variables were assessed with use of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).Results: Compared with medical students, nonmedical college students had higher prevalence rates of depression (53.9 vs. 46.4%; p = 0.020) and insomnia (28.0 vs. 22.4%, p = 0.049), as well as higher total scores on the PHQ-9 (p = 0.03) and ISI (p &lt; 0.01). Among nonmedical college students, being female and native of non-Shandong were risk factors for anxiety and depression (p &lt; 0.01), while only native of non-Shandong for insomnia (p &lt; 0.01). Among medical students, age (p &lt; 0.01) and living in rural areas (p = 0.04) were risk factors for depression, while only age (p &lt; 0.05) was a risk factor for anxiety and insomnia.Conclusion: Nonmedical college students in the universities of Shandong Province had more mental health problems and more risk factors for developing them during the COVID-19 epidemic recovery period than medical students. These nonmedical students require additional attention and recovery programs to alleviate the increased incidence of psychological problems related to COVID-19.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 381-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy J. Razza ◽  
Laura Schwartz Dayan ◽  
Daniel Tomasulo ◽  
Michelle S. Ballan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: to document the relationship between intellectual disability (ID) and psychopathology; to raise awareness of the ongoing lag in professional training for psychologists in the area of mental health treatment for people with intellectual disabilities; and, to provide recommendations for advancing professional education and, ultimately, adequate mental health treatment availability for people with intellectual disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the literature on prevalence of mental health problems in people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, the paper reviews the training of psychologists relative to the burgeoning growth in awareness of the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Findings – The paper concludes that ID is a significant risk factor for psychopathology. In addition, the paper concludes that the education of psychologists regarding the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities is insufficient. The authors document the need for incorporating research and treatment advances related to intellectual disabilities and mental health into to the professional training of psychologists. The paper also describe the potential this training holds for improving both the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and the overall competence of psychologists. Practical implications – This paper provides a literature-based rationale for the need to include education in the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities into the general training of mental health professionals. In addition, it provides specific recommendations for how such training can be incorporated into graduate psychology programs. Originality/value – This paper provides mental health professionals with a review of the growth in understanding of the enormous, unmet mental health needs of people intellectual disabilities, and of the critical role of ID in development of mental health problems. Moreover, this paper builds the case for an important revision in the training of psychologists to include competence in understanding and treating mental health problems across the full spectrum of intellectual functioning.


2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 222-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Nadkarni ◽  
Barry Chipchase ◽  
Kim Fraser

With every serious incident of violence involving a person with current or past mental health problems we hear the cry ‘community care has failed’. While an increase in resources for in-patient psychiatric care will be welcomed, the reality is that many individuals with mental health needs, some of whom commit criminal offences, will be living in the community. The probation hostels are an example of such an interface, and offer an opportunity for inter-agency working.


Author(s):  
Annette D'Arqom ◽  
Brihastami Sawitri ◽  
Zamal Nasution ◽  
Dimas Setyanto ◽  
Safira Nur Izzah ◽  
...  

COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of human life, not only health, but also economic, education, and daily activity. The sudden changes caused a mental burden for the majority of people. Moreover, the infodemic might increase the burden. Unfortunately, not all people aware of their mental health, and the negative stigma from the community leads the patient to hesitate for sharing and seeking help. Therefore, an anonymous online supporting group (www.laluibersama.com) is developed to increase awareness of mental health and provided the facility to share and to support users. This site consists of several basic information and articles regarding COVID-19, emphasizes on pharmacotherapy and mental health issues, sharing forum, and mental health calculator based on depression, anxiety, and stress scales (DASS 21). From the evaluation, 53.61% of users choose mental health calculators as the most favorite page, followed by article (29.90%), homepage (12.37%), and sharing page (4.12%). Most of the respondents agree that the mental health calculator is unique and useful, therefore can be used as a screening of mental health problems prior to seeking health professional help. Taken together, mental health needs more attention in this pandemic due to the increasing burden, and the screening of mental health problems and sharing to alleviate the users’ burden can be performed at www.lalui bersama.com.


1983 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Pruchno ◽  
Michael A. Smyer

The mental health needs of older adults remain largely unmet. This gap is due, in part, to a lack of adequately trained professionals and paraprofessionals. The sixteenitem quiz presented in this article has two purposes: 1) to present an overview of salient empirical and theoretical issues in the area of mental health and aging, and 2) to promote discussion of these topics. Each item is documented with supporting literature. In addition, average scores, item difficulties, and item-to-total correlations are presented for two groups of undergraduate students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Huiting Guo

College period is one of the most critical periods of one person’s life for it is an important period of establishing world concept, outlook on life and values. Various challenges and pressures have had a great impact on the mental health of college students. In that case, college students’ psychological confusion and mental health problems occur frequently and the overall condition of college students’ psychological problems is worrying. The mental health of college students has also attracted the attention of colleges and the society. Besides, the mental health education courses have been adopted to guide college students. This article aims to analyze the causes of college students’ psychological confusion and mental health problems and also the obstacles or difficulties in solving them from the perspective of college students' cultivation of positive psychological quality and mental health education. And corresponding solutions from both the outside and personal perspectives.


Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 477-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Crane ◽  
Fern Adams ◽  
Georgia Harper ◽  
Jack Welch ◽  
Elizabeth Pellicano

There is a high incidence and prevalence of mental health problems among young people, with several barriers to help-seeking noted in this group. High rates of mental health problems have also been reported in children and adults on the autism spectrum. Taken together, young autistic people may be a particularly vulnerable group when it comes to mental health. Yet, there has been remarkably little work on the mental health needs and experiences of young autistic adults (16–25 years). Adopting a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach – in which academic researchers and young autistic adults collaborated in an equitable research partnership – we explored young autistic people’s experiences of mental health problems and their perspectives on the support they sought, if any, for these problems. A total of 130 young autistic adults took part in the research: 109 completed an online survey and 21 took part in detailed interviews. The results highlight how young autistic people find it difficult to evaluate their mental health, experience high levels of stigma and often face severe obstacles when trying to access mental health support. The findings also demonstrate how listening to – and learning from – young autistic people is crucial in ensuring that their mental health needs are met.


Author(s):  
Annette D’Arqom ◽  
Brihastami Sawitri ◽  
Zamal Nasution ◽  
Dimas Setyanto ◽  
Safira Nur Izzah ◽  
...  

COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of human life, not only health, but also economic, education, and daily activity. The sudden changes caused a mental burden for the majority of people. Moreover, the infodemic might increase the burden. Unfortunately, not all people aware of their mental health and with the negative stigma from the community lead the patient to hesitate for sharing and seeking help. Therefore, an anonymous online supporting group (www.laluibersama.com) is developed to increase awareness of mental health and provided the facility to share and to support users. This site consists of several basic information and articles regarding COVID-19, emphasizes on pharmacotherapy and mental health issues, sharing forum, and mental health calculator based on depression, anxiety, and stress scales (DASS 21). From the evaluation, 53.61% of users choose mental health calculators as the most favorite page, followed by article (29.90%), homepage (12.37%), and sharing page (4.12%). Most of the respondents agree that the mental health calculator is unique and useful, therefore can be used as a screening of mental health problems prior seeking health professional help. Taken together, mental health needs more attention in this pandemic due to the increasing burden, and the screening of mental health problems and sharing to alleviate the burden can be performed at www.lalui bersama.com. Pandemi COVID-19 memengaruhi semua aspek kehidupan manusia, tidak hanya kesehatan, tetapi juga ekonomi, pendidikan, dan aktivitas sehari-hari. Perubahan mendadak tersebut menyebabkan beban mental bagi sebagian besar orang. Apalagi, badai informasi bisa menambah beban. Sayangnya, tidak semua orang menyadari beban mental mereka, dan memiliki orang untuk berbagi dan peduli. Oleh karena itu, kelompok pendukung online anonim (www.laluibersama.com) dikembangkan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran akan kesehatan mental dan menyediakan fasilitas untuk berbagi dan mendukung antar pengguna. Situs ini terdiri dari beberapa informasi dasar dan artikel mengenai COVID-19 dengan penekanan pada farmakoterapi dan kesehatan mental, forum berbagi, dan kalkulator kesehatan mental berdasarkan skala depresi, kecemasan, dan stres (DASS 21). Dari evaluasi tersebut, 53.61% pengguna memilih kalkulator kesehatan mental sebagai halaman favorit, diikuti oleh artikel (29.90%), homepage (12.37%), dan halaman berbagi (4.12%). Sebagian besar responden setuju bahwa kalkulator kesehatan jiwa itu unik dan valid, oleh karena itu dapat digunakan sebagai skrining masalah kesehatan jiwa. Secara keseluruhan kesehatan jiwa perlu mendapat perhatian lebih dalam menghadapi pandemi ini karena beban yang semakin meningkat, dan pemeriksaan dini masalah kesehatan jiwa dan berbagi kekhawatiran dan pemikiran dapat dilakukan di www.lalui bersama.com.


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