Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — A new survey shows that a large number of university students suffer from problems with their mental health, and an increasing percentage is considering not completing their studies.
2 out of 5 college students, nearly 50 percent of whom are female students, experience emotional stress while attending college, according to a survey published Thursday by Gallup and Lumina, a private, independent organization focused on creating accessible educational opportunities for post-secondary learning. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2022, and the responses of 12,000 adults who had a high school diploma but did not complete an associate or bachelor’s degree were revealed.
The survey revealed that more than 40% of students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program had considered dropping out in the past six months, up from 34% in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most attributed the cause to emotional stress and personal mental health, rather than financial considerations and the difficulty of classes.
Experts say the young adult years are a delicate phase for mental health in general, and the significant changes that often accompany entering college can add stress.
Sarah K. said: Lipson, an associate professor at Boston University and principal investigator for the Healthy Minds Network, a research organization that focuses on mental health in adolescents and young adults, says, “About 75% of lifelong mental health problems present by the mid-twenties, which means the college years are a very critical time of epidemiological aspect.”
And for many teens and young adults, the transition to college brings a newfound independence. They may be experiencing the first signs and symptoms of a mental health problem while they are currently experiencing this new level of autonomy which includes a newfound independence of decision-making as it relates to mental health.”
It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the United States has a mental illness, and young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are disproportionately affected. The percentage of college students who have reported feeling anxious and depressed has been increasing for years, and this reality has been exacerbated during the “Covid-19” pandemic.
An analysis of federal data by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that half of young people ages 18 to 24 reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2023, compared with about a third of adults overall.
Stop the “shame spiral”
Experts said that mental health in college is very important.
“We care about almost every expected long-term outcome, including their future economic earnings, workplace productivity, and their future mental and physical health,” Lipson said.
It turns out that the need for support is urgent. Nearly 1 in 7 college students said they had suicidal thoughts, a higher number than the previous year, according to a fall 2021 survey conducted by the Healthy Minds Network.
For many college students, considering or deciding to give up pursuing college because of mental health challenges, negative emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and sadness, are associated.
“For a lot of students, this just doesn’t align with what they imagined their lives would be like,” said Julie Wolfson, director of outreach and research for College ReEntry at Fountain House, a nonprofit organization that works to support people with mental illness. They put it on themselves.”
“They see their friends move forward, graduate and get their first job. They feel stuck, as they watch their life plans fade away.”
This fact may constitute a kind of shame spiral, according to Lipson.
But mental health experts stress the importance of prioritizing personal needs in the current situation.
“There’s nothing wrong with taking some time off,” said Marcus Hotaling, a psychologist at Union College and president of the Association of College Counseling Center Directors.
“Take a semester off, even a year, improve yourself through therapy or medication, and come back stronger, better student, more focused, and most importantly, healthier,” he advised.
Experts are also encouraging higher education institutions to help relieve this pressure by putting in place policies that simplify the return process.
“I hope in the future, there will be policies and systems that are more welcoming to students who are trying to take care of themselves,” he added.
Building support
Managing mental health varies from person to person, and experts say taking a break from school isn’t the best solution for everyone.
Tracking progress through self-assessments of symptoms and performance measures, such as class attendance and keeping up with assignments, may help, said Ryan Patel, chair of mental health at the American College of Health and Ohio State’s chief psychiatrist.
Experts said that for a while it was difficult to articulate the problem and turn it into an issue in order to raise interest in the mental health of university students. Now, students’ mental health is consistently cited as the most pressing issue among college presidents, according to a survey by the American Council on Education.
As the need for services increases, university counseling centers struggle to meet demand, with a shortage of mental health professionals on campus.
“Colleges have an educational mission, and I seek to expand this concept to include education about health and safety,” Hotaling said.
2023-05-18 13:46:34
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