Total Access Medical - Direct Primary Care Blog

New Study: 1 in 3 College Students Suffers From Mental Health Issues

Posted by Total Access Medical on Sep 28, 2018

Depression A new study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology shows that more than one in three first-year college students around the world struggle with a mental health disorder.

The author of the study, Randy Auerbach of Columbia University in New York City, said, "The number of students who need treatment for these disorders far exceeds the resources of most counseling centers, resulting in a substantial unmet need. Colleges must take a greater urgency in addressing this issue."

In the study, researchers analyzed data collected on nearly 14,000 students from 19 colleges in eight countries -- Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Spain and the United States.

The students answered questions designed to assess their mental health and identify common disorders, such as major depression, anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

The study showed that 35% of first-year college students experienced symptoms consistent with at least one mental health issue.

Major depressive disorder was the most common condition among the students, but many were also affected by generalized anxiety disorder.

The finding that one-third of students from multiple countries screened positive for at least one of six mental health disorders represents a key global mental health issue.

Earlier this week, another study uncovered a similar, troubling trend. Among more than 67,000 U.S. students surveyed in that study, over 20% said they experienced stressful events in the last year that were strongly associated with mental health problems, including harming themselves, having suicidal thoughts or attempting suicide.

But, Auerbach's team said, previous research has also found that only about 15 percent to 20 percent of college students seek help at their school's counseling center, which may already be struggling to meet rising demand for services. So the study authors suggest that students go online to look for help, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

Internet-based clinical tools may be helpful in providing treatment to students who are less inclined to pursue services on campus or are waiting to be seen.


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