Mental Health Issues among University Students

Mental Health Issues among University StudentsIntroductionMental wellness issue among university students is a major emergence wellness concern. Research conducted in recent years has established that cases of students diagnosed with amiable health issues atomic number 18 on the rise. A study conducted by the National confederacy on Mental Illness (NAMI) found out that one in tetrad students in the US assumes from a genial-related health issue. In the UK, university counselors guard describe change magnitude cases of students dealings with mental-related issues. A survey conducted by NUS in 2014 established that 75% of the students suffered from a mental health issues (Winrow, 2017). There argon also increased cases of university students dropping out of school because of being overwhelmed by mental health issues. Mental health status of a university student is of uttermost importance because it plays a critical role in shaping the education life.In the UK, about15,000 f irst year students circulateed dealing with mental health issues (Burns,2017). The figures are a sharp contrast to about 3000 students in 2006 that werediagnosed with mental health issues. Surveys conducted by different companies prepare also established that females are more likely to report a mental healthissue than males.Mental health issues necessitateing university studentsThere are numerous mental health issues that affect university students. Depression is among the familiar mental health issues among students. A survey conducted by YouGov found that 77% of students with mental health issue had depression (Aronin and Smith, 2016). Anxiety is another mental health issue facing university students. Anxiety is largely caused by divergent issues like exam fear and experiencing difficulties while studying. University education is quite motiveing and may prove a high-energy consuming activity for some students. Students are also expected to attain a certain score to guarantee them a pass in a certain class. Resultantly, some students may become anxious about their performance, which may affect their mental status. Stress among university students is another major mental health issue. Stress among university students is influenced by different factors. The highly demanding university studies are a leading cause of stress among the university students. Other causes of stress include examinations, deadlines, managing debts and demand coursework. Other mental health issues facing university students in the UK include self-harm, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, and addiction.Causes of mental healthissuesThere are numerousand divergent students pressures that may cause mental health issues. TheyincludeLiving independently for the first timeSome university students are compelled to live independentlydepending on the location of the university they study. Living away from theirhomes may result to loneliness. Students living alone may feel overwhelmed byrespo nsibilities, which they are expected to do on their own. At times, theymay also feel scared. such situations may lead to mental health issues.Managing an increased workloadStudents are expected to go through a large amount of workloadduring their university education. Students are expected to bear the amount ofworkload expected in a university. However, some students find it a tall order,which may make them uncomfortable and unhappy. flunk to manage increasedworkload can result in poor performance. Such students may fail to completeassignment and fail to meet deadlines square up for different academic activities. Asa result, such students may develop stress, which affects their mental healthstatus.Additional work responsibilitiesSome students may be in engaged in other responsibilities likeworking on a part-time basis. They may engage in such activities to raiseincome that will uphold them to sustain their university education. Balancingbetween education and part-time job is at times a challenge that may bringhealth mental issues. kitchen-gardening shock, language barriers, and homesicknessInternational students studying in different UK universities sufferfrom culture shock, language barrier, and homesickness. These students arecompelled to leave their families and countries and embark on education in theUK. They are compelled to go through adifficult period of learning a new culture feel like strangers. Culturaldifferences may at times feel strange and difficult to adopt. Internationalstudents also experience language barrier, which may make it difficult for themto comprehend what the professors are saying. Language barrier may also make itdifficult for such students to interact with local students. Internationalstudents experience homesickness because they are separated from their familyand loved ones. Such issues lead to substantial levels of stress, which affecttheir mental health status.Increased study costsThe cost of funding university education is on the rise.Resultantly, students are increasing a difficult situation of dealing with thesoaring expenses to fund their education. A research conducted among 2000students by NUS established that a third of them report of having mental healthissues because of financial problems (Minsky, 2016). The students stated credit separate and payday loans as some of the financial problems that contributed tomental health issues. Maintenance loans given to students results in increasedstress because students are worried about their debts.Increasingly combative job marketThe job market is getting increasingly competitive, which results inincreased pressure among university students. New grads looking for jobs arecompelled to cope with increased competition. Employers have increased thecompetitiveness of the job market because they are looking for grads thatpossess hard and STEM skills. Universities are churning out students, who donot have employability skills that can match the fast-changing skills thatcharacterize the competitive job market.Curbinghealth mental issuesBesides relying on health authorities to monitor mental health issuesamong students, universities need to increase support work that should lookafter their own students to help them deal with mental health issues. Thealready established support services that deal with mental health issues areoverwhelmed by the increasing number of students affected. A study conducted byIPPR found out that one in four students is using or waiting to use counselingservices. In Leeds University, the study found out that there was a 50%increase in demand of mental health services, while the University ofBirmingham there has been an annual increase of 5-6% for the past 10 years inneed of the services (Burns, 2017). Universities need to prioritize mental healthissues and channel more resources and effort towards curbing the issues.Additionally, universities need to improve students access to National HealthService (NHS)In summ ary, it is evident from the above discourse that mentalhealth issues among university is a major concern that should be taken moreseriously given the rising cases of the affected students. Mental health issues shank from different student pressures like living independently for the first time,managing an increased workload, additional work responsibilities, and soaringuniversity cost. Students may experience different mental health issues likedepression, stress, anxiety, and eating disorders. Universities need toincrease their efforts towards establishing the right support services tohandle increasing cases of students experiencing mental health issues.ReferencesAronin, S. and Smith, M. (2016). YouGov One in four students suffer from mental health problems. online YouGov What the world thinks. Available athttps//yougov.co.uk/ intelligence agency/2016/08/09/quarter-britains-students-are-afflicted-mental-hea/Accessed 15 Feb. 2018.Burns, J. (2017). Sharprise in student mental illness . online BBC News. Available at http//www.bbc.com/news/education-41148704Accessed 15 Feb. 2018.Minsky, C. (2016). UKstudents mental health affected by financial worries. online Times HigherEducation (THE). Available athttps//www.timeshighereducation.com/student/news/uk-students-mental-health-affected-financial-worriesAccessed 15 Feb. 2018.Winrow, L. (2017). more(prenominal)students are dropping out of university because of mental health. online TheIndependent. Available athttp//www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/more-students-are-dropping-out-of-university-because-of-mental-health-problems-a7788901.htmlAccessed 15 Feb. 2018.