Before starting we must understand, What Mental Health actually is? In layman’s terms, Mental Health basically includes one’s Emotional, Psychological, and Social well-being. What people generally think, feel & behave, is what Mental Health all about.

Good Mental Health always contributes to:

• Coping with a stressful environment.
• Being physically healthy.
• Effective work management.
• Good social as well as personal life.

Countless factors around us can affect one’s mental health such as day-to-day interactions with family and friends, One’s lifestyle, the Biological makeup of one’s mind, etc. Not everyone is an expert in seeing the signs of these mental health problems, as when the issue arises due to your emotions, it is very hard to know what is normal and what is not.

There are few warning signs which one might have, who is suffering from a mental health problem, like:

• Alteration in dietary habits as well as in sleeping patterns.
• Feeling low all the time.
• No escape of bad thoughts or memories from one’s mind.
• Body aches and pains without any justification.
• Pulling yourself out from social conversations or the activities you most like.
• Increase in smoking or drinking habits.
• Often feels disordered, absent minded, irritated, upset, anxious, or startled.

Studies have found that most mental health disorders usually have their onset during young adulthood by the age of around 20 – 25 years when an individual is in his/her college. Traditionally, students start college after completing Higher Secondary School, normally younger, and have to be dependent on their parents for any financial support/help, as usual, they can’t work until the completion of their graduation. Anxiety Disorder and Depression are the most common form of mental health problems which college students generally face during their time.

Numerous studies around the world have clearly stated that there is an upsurge in the gravity as well as in the figure of college students who are suffering from mental health issues. The main contributors in the onset of symptoms have been classified by the students and counselors, among those who are inclined to experience diagnosable mental health disorders. Additionally, a lot of students also experience situational and progressional crises while in college. A huge increase in the number of students coupled with an overall reduction in funding has led to higher staff student ratios resulting in a decrease in the number of staff available for providing help and support to the students. University’s counselling staff are not up to the mark of students they can treat and lacks in the assistance which they can provide. Another issue is that students who are suffering from mental health problems, who could be profited from these services, usually do not strive for such help. 

These issues can be resolved effectively by establishing better links among the Universities and external mental health services providers, and making the students aware of such association of within and external mental health service providers so that maximum students can be benefitted from it. Even though the staff of the universities and colleges be trained by these mental health providers so that they can provide guidance to the students, as well, at their own level. Universities should formulate policies with respect to take care of the mental health of their students and making it the priority. Universities/Organisations can also approach professionals in maximizing the results of improving the student’s mental health and support them in getting a better future ahead.

In India, thousands of students take admissions in MBA & BBA courses of the various universities, each academic year. Top MBA & BBA colleges in India have taken initiatives to look after the mental health of their students and in light of the same policy, Ragging, which is a common cause for developing mental health problems among young students, is been banned and also the Union/State Governments are taking initiative to penalize those who are found to be performing the act of Ragging upon students.

Ms. Rupakshi Gaur
Assistant Professor, RDIAS