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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY 1

PSYCHOLOGY 8

What are the perceptions of university students toward mental health?

Introduction

For many students around the world, obtaining a high-quality education is still a top priority. Unfortunately, students' mental well-being is a major source of concern in higher education. Depression is one of the illnesses afflicting this group of persons. It is impossible for them to enjoy a high-quality life or achieve their job goals if this problem arises currently in their life. This cause and effect explore the nature of this mental health issue, it’s possible causes, the significant repercussions, and the best ways to aid the affected persons (Ma et al., 2021). Many students today confront challenges and worries related to their education. Some of them are still unwilling to seek help and explain the underlying causes of their troubles. Moreover, many students are unable to recognize that their mental health and mental well-being have a direct impact on their conduct, future grades, and the ability to use their knowledge in the real world in the future. In this article, Laidlaw et al. (2015) explore the notions of mental health and mental well-being that undergraduate students comprehend, as well as the instances in which students believe it necessary to ask for help to overcome their mental issues.

Background of the Issue

Stress, anxiety, and depression affect around one-third of all university students in the United States. Students' lives have long been described as distinct from both children and adults, but the issue was never considered as urgent until today. Studying used to be seen as a happy time, but new data shows that since the dawn of the twenty-first century, people's philological well-being has declined dramatically (Ma et al., 2021). The stress that college students undergo is well-known. There's no denying that more than a third of individuals who seek help for mental health difficulties state that they've contemplated suicide at some point in their lives, up from roughly a quarter in 2010.

If a student has a mental health issue, it is a good idea to provide them with access to therapy so they may get some support. The fact that over half of them have problems they cannot handle on their own cannot be perceived as normal. In addition, more than a third of students need medication and therapy to cope with their daily routines, which is crucial but also raises much concern. The problem's importance is undeniable considering the provided figures. Students' well-being is adversely affected by their environment and routine, according to several scientists and psychologists who have studied the issue. Then again, there are those who have a different opinion. They stress the importance of a person's own bad behaviors in this perspective. However, while they are concerned about the negative impact that students' sleeping and eating habits have on their mental health, they should also consider the ways in which their busy schedules and surrounding environment affect it, because the students' wishes will not solve the overload, social and financial problems. Numerous mental health issues commonly encountered by students in a variety of educational settings have been the subject of previous research.

According to Joseph (2019), students' health was shown to be worse than that of the public. An estimated 30.6% of students in higher education institutions are experiencing mental health issues (Jiang, Li, Chen, & Chen, 2015). As a result, some colleges and institutions have a greater number of students afflicted by this issue than others. In this period of life, people are expected to make timely decisions and follow their own distinct goals in life with utmost dedication. The mental health of these adolescents is taken seriously by a variety of stakeholders to help them realize their full potential (Roxo & Perelman, 2021). The challenge that arises in handling the mental health among the college students is the fact that the students have a negative perception towards seeking help and treatment because they fear being stigmatized.

Causes of Mental Issues

There are various issues of mental health that occurs among college students and the perception of the emergence based on them comes to some causes as stated below. These people are particularly susceptible to depression for a variety of reasons. In some institutions, this health problem is more common because of certain characteristics or causes. First and foremost, students must be able to perform challenging academic activities, participate in class discussions, and turn in their work on time. Students agree that they have challenging academic requirements and should balance with the life issues that they experience (Jiang et al., 2015). The college students perceive that joining university or any other tertiary institution comes with its challenges due to the exposure to much diversity and might be difficult to cope with the huge changes without the necessary guidance.

The university students agree that the University and college management fails to consider offering a good transition to the student to guarantee them a better stay in the institutions. As a result, many students find it difficult to cope with these rules, policies, and obligations. There have also been reports of prejudice at other institutions around the United States and the world. Furthermore, students from poverty or ethnic minorities are perceived as arrogant and incompetent, according to Wahed & Hassan (2019). The stereotype that comes with diversity in colleges also is a contributing factor to increasing mental health issues. Students in the colleges agree that mental health matters in their academic excellence and would like the institution management to consider investing in mental health training and awareness programs. In many colleges, this type of discrimination is a significant risk factor for depression. It is also important to note that the economy is still a major factor in the stress that students feel in schools. In most cases, students must stay in school to achieve their academic goals. In most cases, parents, sponsors, or other guardians are unable to provide appropriate financial support for these persons. In other cases, they can be unable to pursue their aspirations because of a lack of enough cash (Roxo & Perelman, 2021). The other factor is that college students are well-known for forming new connections with their peers. The students perceive that mental health issues are contributed by challenging social and economic issues in the society and require the government and the institutions to make it public and raise awareness that would help in the initiative in addressing it.

Even though some of these relationships may continue to thrive, others will face a variety of difficulties. An excellent illustration of this is when a partner decides to end the affair without presenting a compelling explanation. As a result, one of them will face several difficulties as they attempt to come to terms with the new reality (Ngin et al., 2018). University students are expected to make difficult judgments about their future job goals and aspirations. They are unable to accomplish their goals because of these requirements. There may not be enough counseling and guidance services to address the requirements of these people. As a result, certain students from minority backgrounds may be more affected than others. Those who come from broken homes will have no choice but to look for assistance elsewhere. Students are more likely to develop depressed if they do not have access to these services.

Coping Strategies

Universities can take a variety of steps to help students deal with stress and anxiety. First, they should develop training programs and workshops that teach students how to deal with stress, anxiety, and other related issues. The approach is much necessary since the students support the mental health initiative and since they fear stereotype and stigma associated with it, raising awareness and involve everyone in the program makes it a success. Meditation, social support, relaxation, physical activity, and the need of sleep and nutritious eating could all be included in a stress-management program for students. Many university students lack the required skills and expertise to effectively manage their stress (Roxo & Perelman, 2021). The second benefit is that they can foster an atmosphere in which students feel free to discuss their issues and seek outside assistance when necessary.

There are several ways to accomplish this, such as organizing workshops and creating awareness programs that educate students about mental health issues and the link between student wellbeing and academic achievement. College students fear opening up about mental health or seeking help and this demand that an intervention that encourages them to open up would work towards addressing the issue. Student health can only be ensured if they are aware of how to meet their diverse demands. Third, colleges and universities should open more wellness and counseling services to help students cope with anxiety (Schreiber, 2019). There are clinics like these where students may get professional advice on how to deal with anxiety and other mental health issues that may arise. Some kids suffer because they don't know where to turn for support or who to turn to. To encourage students to talk openly about their concerns with peers and counselors, colleges should implement policies and initiatives to combat the stigma of mental illness. Students with mental health concerns should be closely monitored by the school.

Conclusion

Transitioning from high school to university is one of the many difficulties that students face when they enroll in college or another postsecondary institution. Academic work, relationships, integration, and new lifestyles put students under a lot of stress that can lead to disorders like anxiety and depression if they are not appropriately dealt with. Because of a lack of resources, inadequate knowledge and training, confusing guidelines regarding stress management, and poor learning environments, universities have been unable to engage with students regarding healthy stress management (Schreiber, 2019). Mental health stigma is another factor that prevents many students from seeking help for their issues. Stress-related illnesses have been on the rise in colleges over the last decade, according to research. Exams, high expectations from parents, uncertain employment chances, social demands, and financial limits are only some of the factors that contribute to stress. As a result, the number of students suffering from stress-related illnesses is on the rise in colleges and universities. Another reason why institutions have not been able to help students cope with stress is because they lack proper training in stress management. Stress management is something that many first-year college students lack because of their lack of preparation (Schreiber, 2019). To assist them manage and live productive lives, they receive insufficient training following admission. Wellness programs and workshops aimed at educating students on stress management should be developed by colleges to assist combat this issue and alleviate their worry.

References

Jiang, C. X., Li, Z. Z., Chen, P., & Chen, L. Z. (2015). Prevalence of depression among college-goers in mainland China: A methodical evaluation and meta-analysis. Medicine, 94(50), e2071.

Joseph, S. (2019). Depression, anxiety rising among U.S. college students. Reuters. Web.

Laidlaw, A., McLellan, J. and Ozakinci, G. (2015). Understanding undergraduate student perceptions of mental health, mental well-being and help-seeking behaviour. Studies in Higher Education, 41(12), pp. 2156-2168.

Ma, Q., Parisi, J., Joo, J., & Gallo, J. (2021). Singapore young adults’ perception of mental health help-seeking from mental health professionals and peer supporters. Asian Journal Of Psychiatry, 61, 102687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102687

Ngin, C., Pal, K., Tuot, S., Chhoun, P., Yi, R., & Yi, S. (2018). Social and behavioural factors associated with depressive symptoms among university students in Cambodia: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8(9), e019918.

Roxo, L., & Perelman, J. (2021). Mental health services use for depression: socioeconomic status, needs perception and affordability. European Journal of Public Health, 31(Supplement_3). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.387

Schreiber, B. (2019). Mental Health at Universities: Universities are Not in Loco Parentis – Students are Active Partners in Mental Health. Journal of Student Affairs In Africa, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.24085/jsaa.v6i2.3318

Wahed, W. Y. A., & Hassan, S. K. (2019). Prevalence and associated factors of stress, anxiety and depression among medical Fayoum University students. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 53(1), 77-84.