Depression, anxiety and academic stress among college students: A brief review

Pages: 748-751
Vijay Mahadeorao Bhujade (Department of Psychology, Vidyawardhini Arts, Commerce & Arts College, Dhule, Maharashtra)

Higher education is a stressful period in students’ life which they need to cope with due to various reasons as living away from the families, a heavy syllabus, and inefficiency in higher education programs. Depression, anxiety and academic stress among college students are a cause of concern. Every nation invests lot of money on education. However research survey on college student’s reports at any given time there will be 10 to 20 % of student population suffering from psychological problems (Stress, Anxiety, & Depression). This paper briefly describes the research carried out in the last 3 decades especially regarding stress, anxiety and depression. It focuses stress among college students, nature of psychiatric morbidity, emotional problems and adjustment, psychological problems of college students. Emphasizing how counseling will help students with emotional problems and also suggested preventive measures to be taken by colleges such as setting up student counseling centers, create awareness among college students in seeking help with counseling centers. It is also suggested to have mentor- mentee programme compulsorily on all colleges. A student health committee should be formed in each college with mental health professionals as its members. There should be regular seminar and workshop for teachers and college students on various issues of psychological problems and its coping mechanisms.