Q: How Many College Students Struggle with Mental Health?

According to college mental health nonprofit Active Minds , 39% of university students have a mental health issue while in college, and 75% of mental health issues begin by age 24. College students experience a wide range of mental health problems that can be triggered or made worse by different aspects of the college experience, like the added stress of an intensive course load or adapting to a new social environment.

Question 1

How Many College Students Struggle with Mental Health?

Accepted Answer

According to college mental health nonprofit Active Minds, 39% of university students have a mental health issue while in college, and 75% of mental health issues begin by age 24. College students experience a wide range of mental health problems that can be triggered or made worse by different aspects of the college experience, like the added stress of an intensive course load or adapting to a new social environment.

Question 2

What Are the Most Common Mental Health Problems College Students Face?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues for college students. The National College Health Assessment reports that 50% of students have been diagnosed with one or both of these conditions. However, many students suffering from mental illness or mental health conditions do not receive treatment, and may go undiagnosed.

Some people also experience co-occurring mental health problems, meaning they may struggle with more than one psychiatric condition. The phrase 鈥渄ual diagnosis鈥� is used as shorthand for those who have substance use disorder, in addition to another mental illness.

Question 3

What Causes Anxiety in College Students?

Accepted Answer

For many students, the transition into college is an especially dangerous time for developing or intensifying anxiety disorders. The added stress of being in a new place away from home, trying to make friends or fit in, the pressure to do well in school, and the new responsibilities of young adulthood can all add up. Lifestyle habits like not getting enough sleep or exercise and drinking too much coffee 鈥� all very common in college 鈥� can also trigger anxiety or make symptoms worse.

Question 4

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety?

Accepted Answer

The most common type of anxiety disorder is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). To be diagnosed with GAD, you must experience excessive, uncontrollable anxiety and worry that spans multiple topics and might not match with what's really going on. The worry must occur more often than not for at least six months, and people with GAD might have anxiety that easily transfers from topic to topic.

In addition to this, you must also display at least three of the following symptoms:

Feeling edgy or restless
Getting tired or fatigued easily
Feeling irritable
Muscle aches or soreness 鈥� anxiety can cause tension in the neck, jaw, chest, stomach, and other areas of the body
Having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, feeling restless at night, or not feeling well-rested

Question 5

What Causes Depression for College Students?

Accepted Answer

Going to college by itself does not cause depression, but many common aspects of the typical college experience can. Not getting enough sleep or exercise, eating an unhealthy diet, or using drugs and alcohol can negatively impact mood. Feeling homesick or getting used to a new place may also make students feel depressed. Certain medications, hormonal imbalances, stress, trauma, and genetics can also play a role in depression.

Question 6

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?

Accepted Answer

Major Depressive Disorder, also known as major depression or clinical depression, is the most common depressive disorder. Students with major depression usually have a severe and persistent low mood or feelings of sadness or hopelessness that last at least two weeks. However, major depressive episodes often last much longer. Untreated, they can go on for months or years.

Depression is different for every person. Other potential symptoms include:

Sleeping too much or trouble sleeping
Overeating or loss of appetite and weight gain or loss
Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
Feeling tired
Apathy, or loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Moving slowly or seeming agitated
Low self-esteem, feeling bad about yourself, or feeling like a failure
Feeling indecisive
Thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide

Question 7

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse?

Accepted Answer

Because alcohol and drug use are so prevalent on college campuses, it can be difficult to tell when it goes from what might be seen as casual use to substance use disorder or addiction. Using drugs or alcohol may be a choice at first, but our brains can become chemically dependent on these substances to the point where we are no longer able to choose not to use them. As public perception has shifted, we have come to see drug and alcohol addiction as a disorder or disease rather than a choice.聽

Symptoms of substance abuse, dependence, and substance use disorder include:

Hazardous use of drugs or alcohol
Social or interpersonal problems due to use
Neglecting major roles to use a substance
Legal issues
Withdrawal from substance
Tolerance
Using more amounts for longer
Wanting to quit or control use but struggling to do so
Spending a significant amount of time using the substance
Physical or psychological problems related to substance use
Giving up activities to use

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