SYDNEY:

Some university students are drowning in psychological distress and many are not seeking specialist help when they actually need it, a new study claims. The typical reasons for distress ranged from factors such as academic demands, increased freedom, risky behaviours, balancing family and work commitments, to financial pressures, social isolation and even cultural and language differences.

Findings of the Australian study, which could be universally applicable, are to be published in the forthcoming issue of the journal Family Physician.

More than half the 384 students in a university who participated in the study reported mild to very high levels of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety. Distressed students suffered serious disruptions to their education and emotions, on average, being unable to work or study for eight days in a month and at reduced capacity for an additional nine days.

More than 26 per cent of students were likely to have a mild disorder with about 16 per cent likely to have a moderate disorder and another 16 per cent likely to have a severe mental disorder. About 65 per cent of distressed students had not accessed any support services or treatments.

The author of the study, Helen Stallman of the University of Queensland, said she was worried and surprised that so many students were distressed and not seeking help. She believed students needed more support services and was working on developing an online intervention programme to promote student resilience. — HNS