The Rising Crisis: Mental Health Challenges Faced by College Students

This opinion editorial addresses the significant and growing mental health crisis among college students, highlighting the increasing prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues. The essay emphasizes the detrimental impact of these issues on academic performance and overall well-being, supported by research indicating a rise in mental health problems, particularly among graduate students. It proposes interventions such as psychotherapy, mindfulness exercises, and mandatory counseling services on campus to combat these challenges. The editorial calls for a collaborative approach involving both educational institutions and student communities to prioritize mental health, provide accessible support services, and promote awareness. It also suggests alternative treatments like meditation and improved lifestyle choices, and concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health issues to ensure students' educational success and future progress. The references include key studies supporting the arguments.

Running head: OPINION EDITORIAL
OPINION EDITORIAL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1OPINION EDITORIAL
Increasing number of students need treatment for anxiety, depression or other mental-health
issues
April 14, 2020
Introduction
The prevalence of psychological issues in college students is one of the most
important aspects of student health that needs to be taken care of with significant authority.
However, it is also one of the generally neglected aspects when it comes to educational health
services. Research conducted across multiple educational institutions have found that there
has been a significant rise in the number of college students suffering from psychological
issues. It has been seen that graduate students are six times more at risk of depression and
anxiety disorder compared to the general populace (Evans et al., 2018). Apart from this,
depression has been cited as being detrimental to academic performance as well
(Hysenbegasi, Hass, & Rowland, 2005). Of the 121 students tested, the computed variables
investigated were the burden of future employment, self-assessed academic performance, the
treatment services available, and depression itself (Hysenbegasi, Hass, & Rowland, 2005).
High suicide rates, which has tripled in the past 60 years (Mowbray et al., 2006) has drawn
attention to the matter.
Discussion
Given that most student spend most of their time on campus, the college authorities
and policy makers are the ones who can introduce interventions to cope with the given
problem. Firstly, engaging in psychotherapy sessions with trained and licensed professionals
can be introduced in the curriculum of the college students (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010).
Medication can also be an option for high-risk students who are vulnerable and need
immediate medical assistance. For less severe cases of psychological problems, students can
be introduced to mindfulness exercises which have been proven to help in managing multiple
commitments such as classes, work, and friends. Meditation is a mindfulness exercise which

2OPINION EDITORIAL
has shown beneficial results in coping with depression and also reduce the rate of relapse in
students diagnosed with depression. Apart from that, the presence of a counselling
psychotherapist on the institution campus can be made mandatory (Mowbray et al., 2006) so
that the students suffering from the aforementioned mental health issues can receive prompt
help and support
Call to Action
A strict action call for curbing the prevalence of mental health problems in students
should include both the student communities as well as the respective institutional authorities.
For educational institutions, it should be a key priority that the student mental health is in
unaffected state. This includes validating both the external and internal affective factors.
Given that a lot of students suffer from mental health issues because of the educational
pressures that they are unable to face, the institutions should take the responsibility to ensure
that all students are on an equal footing when it comes to academic performance. Secondly,
an immediate helpline number and a go-to personnel should be made available in the
institution premises for easy access by the students. Apart from that, the institutions should
also take ample care to provide the students with necessary information and awareness
regarding mental health and its connections with a healthy lifestyle. For the students, it is
advised that they form a council that deals with the issues related to anxiety, stress and
depression among the students and serve as a bridge between the student community and the
institution. With the help of an on – campus practitioner the students should also take the
initiative to organise awareness campaigns and programmes to highlight specific ways they
can combat the aforementioned issues with appropriate support. While medication is seen by
most as a plausible option for treatment, it should not be a recommendation unless specified
by a certified practitioner. Alternate options like meditation and mindfulness exercises,
strengthening social connections, improving nutrition and sleep habits and avoiding use of

3OPINION EDITORIAL
drugs and alcohol should be made key considerable points for effectively dealing with the
problem.
Conclusion.
While mental health issues in college students is a matter that needs urgent attention
from concerned higher authorities, proper steps should also be taken in order to ensure that
the students’ issues are appropriately identified alongside the factors affecting them.
Institutions should take a stand in dealing with the problems that their students are facing.
This is where the presence of a certified practitioner becomes important. Not only is it a
matter of the students’ mental wellbeing, but also a contributing factor to their overall
educational outcomes and subsequent future progress.

4OPINION EDITORIAL
References.
Evans, T. M., Bira, L., Gastelum, J. B., Weiss, L. T., & Vanderford, N. L. (2018). Evidence for a
mental health crisis in graduate education. Nature biotechnology, 36(3), 282.
Hunt, J., & Eisenberg, D. (2010). Mental health problems and help-seeking behavior among college
students. Journal of adolescent health, 46(1), 3-10.
Hysenbegasi, A., Hass, S. L., & Rowland, C. R. (2005). The impact of depression on the academic
productivity of university students. Journal of mental health policy and economics, 8(3), 145.
Mowbray, C. T., Mandiberg, J. M., Stein, C. H., Kopels, S., Curlin, C., Megivern, D., ... & Lett, R.
(2006). Campus mental health services: Recommendations for change. American Journal of
Orthopsychiatry, 76(2), 226-237.