People experiencing depressive episodes may also experience mood swings, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and headaches and body pains that have no apparent physical cause.ĪCHA's 2018 survey indicated that 40% of American college students experienced at least one major depressive episode that year. This guide contains information to help students identify potential mental health issues and locate valuable community resources.ĭepression is a mood disorder that involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. In other cases, they may lack the time, energy, will, and/or money to seek the support they need. Mental health professionals stress the importance of talking about such issues, but students tend to consider these stresses a normal part of college life. Others include serious problems like suicide, eating disorders, and addiction. Mood disturbances represent only some of the prevalent mental health issues experienced by college students. A 2019 Pennsylvania State University study noted that demand for campus mental health services spiked by 30-40% during a period that saw only a 5% increase in enrollment. According to 20 student surveys from the American College Health Association (ACHA), about 60% of respondents felt 'overwhelming' anxiety, while 40% experienced depression so severe they had difficulty functioning.

What are five common mental health challenges students face in college? Depression Anxiety Suicide Eating Disorders AddictionĮxperts and researchers use terms like 'epidemic' and 'crisis' to characterize the mental health challenges currently facing American college students. Reviewed by Rayelle Davis, M.S.Ed., NCC, LCPC

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