MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

A major time of change, college life is marked by identity construction, financial strains, social adaptations, and academic pressures. College students are more susceptible to a variety of mental health problems because of these developmental obstacles as well as outside stressors. The incidence, causes, and effects of mental health issues among college students are examined in this book chapter, with a focus on substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and stress-related diseases. The chapter highlights important demographic characteristics that affect mental health outcomes in this population, including age, gender, socioeconomic level, and cultural background, based on recent international and regional studies. Examined critically is how academic institutions can either exacerbate or lessen psychological discomfort, paying particular attention to campus culture, workload, support networks, and the availability of mental health treatments. The chapter also addresses how the COVID-19 epidemic and online learning environments affect students' mental health, pointing up both new difficulties and ways to get help. Effectiveness and limitations of current intervention options are examined, including peer support programs, digital mental health technologies, counselling services, and institutional policies. A multi-level strategy engaging students, teachers, administrators, and legislators is suggested in the chapter's conclusion as a means of promoting a more welcoming and adaptable mental health environment. This chapter advances our knowledge of how to support students' academic achievement and well-being by addressing the complex nature of mental health issues in higher education.