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Information support basics understanding mental health

Student stressor position one: mental health

According to a poll of 1,200 students globally done by the virtual health services firm TimelyMD, 50% of college students named their personal mental health difficulties as their primary stressor as of 2023. 39 percent of respondents said they were most worried about their own finances, 37 percent mentioned academics, and 35 percent each mentioned mass shootings and inflation.

While 71 percent of all students reported struggling with stress, anxiety, and depression, that number was higher among transgender students (93 percent), nonbinary students (91 percent), and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island Native students. The survey revealed that mental health needs are particularly acute among students in certain underrepresented groups (83 percent).

Students who reported feeling anxious about supplying their fundamental requirements showed similar tendencies. Compared to 59 percent of respondents overall, 84 percent of American Indian students, 79 percent of transgender students, 73 percent of nonbinary students, and 68 percent of all LGBTQ+ students reported having felt anxious because of a lack of basic needs like food and housing.

While 53 percent of respondents "are on the fence about obtaining professional mental health care," the report found that nearly two-thirds of respondents were receptive to turning to their friends for emotional support. The majority of students (84%) claimed their family are in favour of them getting professional assistance.

different mental health issues

If a mental health issue has been identified in you, you may be looking for information on your diagnosis, available treatments, and resources for assistance. You may find out more by visiting our information pages.

• Depression

explains depression, including potential reasons and how to get assistance and treatment. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Dissociative disorders and dissociation

Dissociative disorders are described, along with potential causes, treatment options, and support services. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• eating issues

explains eating disorders, including potential causes and how to get assistance and treatment. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• listening voices

explains what it's like to hear voices, where to find support if you do, and what other people can do to help someone who is experiencing voice hearing difficulties.

• Hoarding

explains hoarding, including potential causes and how to get support and treatment. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Mania and hypomania

explains hypomania and mania, possible causes, and how to get support and treatment. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Loneliness 

explains loneliness and offers helpful advice on what to do and where to find support.

• Problems with mental health - introduction

explains the various forms of assistance, treatment, and support that are available as well as what causes and contributes to mental health issues. Additionally, it offers advice on where to acquire more information as well as suggestions for family and friends.

• Disorder of compulsive behaviour (OCD)

Describes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including potential causes, treatment options, and support services. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Fear strikes

explains the symptoms, potential causes, and resources available for treatment and assistance for panic attacks. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Paranoia

explains paranoia, including potential reasons, treatment options, and support services. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• psychological problems

explains personality disorders, possible causes, and how to get assistance and therapy.

• Phobias 

explains phobias, including potential origins and resources for support and therapy. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Depression following delivery and perinatal mental health

explains possible causes, methods of treatment, and sources of assistance for postpartum depression and other perinatal mental health problems. also offers family and friends guidance.

• Psychosis

explains the symptoms, potential causes, and methods for getting help and treatment if you are experiencing psychosis. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• Addiction, alcohol, and recreational substances

Find out how using alcohol and drugs for recreational purposes can impact your mental health, especially if you take psychiatric medication. Find resources for recovery from drug and alcohol addiction as well as ways to support someone else who is using drugs or alcohol.

• Psychopathic disorder

explains the causes, symptoms, and nature of schizoaffective disorder. provides advise for friends and family members as well as suggestions on how you can help yourself and what kinds of treatment and support are available.

Self-esteem

explains how to boost your self-esteem and offers helpful advice on what to do and where to find support.

• Self-harm

explains self-harm, including potential causes and how to get support and treatment. includes self-help advice as well as advice for family and friends.

• issues with sleep

explains insomnia and other sleep issues and offers helpful advice on what to do and where to find support.

• Suicidal thoughts

Describes suicidal feelings, including potential reasons and coping mechanisms.

• Dyskinetic tremor

explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for tardive dyskinesia.

• Trauma 

explains what trauma is and how it impacts your mental health, as well as how you can take care of yourself, find available treatments, and get past obstacles to receiving the correct support. contains advice for those wishing to assist someone who has experienced trauma.