359 Mental Health & Resources

Research by Auerbach, Randy P., Bruffaerts, R., Mortier, P., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Cuijpers, P., Demyttenaere, K.,…. Kessler, Ronald C. (2018).

Written by Shannon Cantalupo, B.S.

Recent studies have shown that the rate of mental disorders within colleges worldwide is increasing. The need for mental health treatment has exceeded the available resources for students! The WHO World Mental Health College Student project aims to provide solutions to this increasing problem.

For this project, Auerbach and colleagues investigated the prevalence of mental disorders among college students worldwide. Students in 19 colleges across 8 countries received a series of online self-report questionnaires and 13,000 responded. At least one-third of these individuals reported a mental disorder in their lifetime. And 30% reported a mental disorder in the last 12 months. Results indicate there is a need for additional mental health resources and cost-effective approaches worldwide!

WHO is one project promoting the importance of mental health. If you’re a college student, check out your mental health services on campus. Even if you’re not on a college campus, it is important to take care of your mental health! There are a variety of options for each individual and different college as well as community efforts ensuring there are enough resources for everyone! Don’t hesitate to consult resources.

Reference: Auerbach, R. P., Bruffaerts, R., Mortier, P., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Cuijpers, P., Demyttenaere, K., Kessler, R. C. (2018). WHO world mental health surveys international college student project: Prevalence and distribution of mental disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 127(7) 623-638.