A study published in the Nature journal revealed that mental health problems among university students worldwide have seriously increased in the last decade. Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas, stating that the increase in cases of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm is straining the universities' existing support systems, pointed out that young people have become more vulnerable in terms of mental health, especially in the post-pandemic period.
Evaluating the research, Dr. Ayas drew attention to the impact of uncertainty, future anxiety, and fear of failure on students' mental health; she stated, 'Current economic difficulties, future concerns, and being in socially disadvantaged groups are considered important risk factors for mental health.'
A study published in the Nature journal revealed that mental health problems among university students worldwide have seriously increased in the last decade, and existing support systems are insufficient to cope with this increase.
The research, involving 72,288 undergraduate students globally, highlighted a serious mental health crisis in universities worldwide, with a significant increase in cases of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm among undergraduate students in the last decade.
Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas, Head of the Psychology Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, evaluated this noteworthy research.
The Pandemic Was Also a Mental Health Crisis
Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas stated that the research emphasized that the mental health crisis in universities increased during the COVID-19 Pandemic and showed a slight decrease afterward. “However, an increase can still be mentioned since 2013. We can define the pandemic not only as a physiological health crisis but also as a crisis affecting physiological health, social life, and mental health. Therefore, the increase in mental health problems observed during the pandemic period can be defined as a crisis.” she said.
The Age Group with the Fastest Increase in Mental Disorders is 20-29 Years Old
Emphasizing that mental health problems do not stem solely from individual difficulties, Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas, “Although the pandemic period may have actively ended, its psychological effects will be more long-term. Additionally, the World Health Organization has identified the 20-29 age range as the group with the fastest increase in mental disorders. The increase in this age group is thought to stem from biological and societal reasons rather than individual problems. Especially the onset age of some psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder typically coincides with this period (19-25). This is entirely a biological reason for the onset of a mental disorder. Furthermore, certain individual and societal reasons associated with this age period can also be significant stress factors in the emergence of these diseases.”
Transition to University is a Psychologically Vulnerable Period
Addressing why the transition to university is so sensitive for young people, Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas continued:
“In addition to biological reasons, from a societal perspective, the university period is a time when individuals become independent from their families, responsibilities increase, peer relationships intensify, financial problems can arise, and time management gains importance. When all these are accompanied by more socioeconomically disadvantaged conditions such as financial difficulties and future anxieties, it paves the way for the development of mental disorders like anxiety disorder and depression. Therefore, while the change and independence during the university period alone provide an advantage for young people's development, maturation, and transition to adulthood, negative situations such as financial disadvantage, future anxieties, lack of social support, and political concerns can turn this period into a disadvantage and create vulnerability in young people's mental health. However, it should not be forgotten that these attempts at independence and university life experiences during the university period form a very important foundation for young people's adulthood. This is an even more important and enriching experience, especially for university students living in a different city from their families.”
Psychological Flexibility and Emotion Regulation are Crucial
Dr. Ayas, also addressing the increase in anxiety and depression rates, said, “It is believed that the determinant of individuals' psychological resilience is not so much the events that happen to them, but how they interpret those events. Therefore, psychological flexibility is an important factor for individuals to develop fewer mental disorders when faced with challenging life events. Skills such as recognizing, expressing, and regulating emotions are important skills that need to be developed for psychological flexibility and psychological resilience.”
Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas, also drawing attention to the impact of uncertainty, future anxiety, and fear of failure on students' mental health, stated, “Current economic difficulties, future concerns, and being in socially disadvantaged groups are considered important risk factors for mental health.”
Preventive Mental Health Services Must Be Strengthened
Stating that psychological counseling services offered in universities should be made more accessible, Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas said, “It is very important for psychological support units in universities to be better introduced during orientations, to be accessible to students, and to employ expert professionals in their field. Furthermore, it is important for universities to carry out studies aimed at preventive mental health.
Students in Disadvantaged Groups Should Be Supported Economically and Socially
Dr. Lecturer Hazal Ayas concluded by stating that preventive mental health efforts are as important as mental health intervention programs because they aim to prevent mental problems before they arise. She added, “Therefore, especially in universities; giving importance to and supporting club activities that develop students' social skills, organizing events, festivals, and celebrations to help students cope with both academic and other difficulties and gain positive life experiences, and economically and socially supporting students in disadvantaged groups are important preventive services for the mental health of university students.”
Positive Psychology Course for 13 Years…
At Üsküdar Üniversitesi, which is our country's first thematic university in the fields of behavioral sciences and health and has been conducting significant work in positive psychology since its establishment, Positive Psychology courses have been offered as compulsory courses since 2013.
A Pioneer for Leading Universities Worldwide
Üsküdar Üniversitesi became the first university to include this course in its academic curriculum years before many of the world's leading universities, acting as a pioneer in this field. The 'happiness lessons' also reminded of the importance of the work carried out in the field of positive psychology in our country.