In 2010, UBC made student mental health a priority in response to findings from the 2009 National Colleges Health Assessment (NCHA) indicating that a significant percentage of students were experiencing mental health challenges and that this was negatively affecting their academic performance.2 Comparisons of the findings from the 2009 and 2013 NCHAs show that there has been little change in the student experience of mental health. Table 1 shows concerns experienced by students in the 12-month period before each survey.
Table 1: Student Experience of Mental Health Concerns
In 2013, 56% of students reported that their academic commitments were proving to be traumatic or very difficult to handle, and 58% indicated that they had experienced above-average or “tremendous” stress levels in the previous 12 months. 5 Students reported that stress had a greater impact on academic performance than any other factor (Table 2).
Table 2: Factors Affecting Student Academic Performance
Other sources of undergraduate student stress identified in the literature include competing with other top students, parental pressures, job prospects, tuition fees, poor coping abilities, and having no time alone with their thoughts (away from social media, smartphones).8 Although the NCHA findings clearly show that the vast majority of students experience some form of mental health concern, many of them do not seek help. Common barriers to accessing mental health services identified in the literature include lack of time, lack of awareness about what help is available, stigma associated with accessing mental health services, and concerns about confidentiality.9 It is important to note that in many cases, the experience of stigma is often more devastating than that of the mental health condition itself.10
There is a general acknowledgement in the literature that the student population is becoming more diverse, with more international, part-time, and mature students attending university,11,12and this changing student population is bringing with it new mental health challenges. A growing number of students are self-identifying with mental health concerns,13 although it is unclear if this is due to more students experiencing mental health concerns, identifying themselves as such, or reporting that they have concerns. Data from the 2009 and 2013 NCHAs indicate that while the experience of mental health concerns is similar (Table 1), more students cited it as having a negative impact on their academic performance (Table 2).
References
1 The University of British Columbia. (2012). Mental health & well-being strategy. Retrieved from http://vpstudents.ubc.ca/2012/05/04/mental-health-well-being-strategy/
2 The University of British Columbia. (2010). UBC makes mental health a priority. Retrieved from http://news.ubc.ca/2010/12/03/ubc-makes-mental-health-a-priority/
3 The University of British Columbia. (2010). UBC makes mental health a priority. Retrieved from http://news.ubc.ca/2010/12/03/ubc-makes-mental-health-a-priority/
4 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (2013). University of British Columbia—Okanagan Executive Summary. Retrieved from http://opair.ok.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/National_College_Health_Assessment_201349476.pdf
5 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (2013). University of British Columbia—Okanagan Executive Summary. Retrieved from http://opair.ok.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/National_College_Health_Assessment_201349476.pdf
6 The University of British Columbia Board of Governors. (2012). UBC Vancouver mental health and wellbeing discussion paper. Retrieved from https://bog2.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2012/11/2.1_2012.12_Mental-Health-Attachments-1-2.pdf
7 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment II (2013). University of British Columbia—Okanagan Executive Summary. Retrieved from http://opair.ok.ubc.ca/__shared/assets/National_College_Health_Assessment_201349476.pdf
8 http://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/the-mental-health-crisis-on-campus/
9 Lunau, K. (2012). The mental health crisis on campus: Canadian students feel hopeless, depressed, even suicidal. Retrieved from Maclean’s website http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Abstract/2002/09000/Depressed_Medical_Students__Use_of_Mental_Health.24.aspx
10 Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2013). Opening minds interim report. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/issues/stigma
11 Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. (2011). Trends in higher education (vol. 1 – Enrolment). Retrieved from http://www.aucc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/trends-2011-vol1-enrolment-e.pdf
12 Hussar, W. J., & Bailey, T. M. (2013). Project of education statistics to 2021 (4th ed.). Retrieved from the US National Center for Education Statistics website http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013008.pdf
13 Mowbray, C. T., Mandiberg, J. M., Stein, C. H., Kopels, S., Curlin, C., Megivern, D., Strauss, S., Collins, K. and Lett, R. (2006), Campus Mental Health Services: Recommendations for Change. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76: 226–237. doi: 10.1037/0002-9432.76.2.226
Posted: Feb 22, 2016