KOLEGIJOS STUDENTŲ PSICHOEMOCINĖ SAVIJAUTA

Psychical and Emotional State of College Students

Abstract

The World Health Organization has stated that the last few years, the youth mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and selfharm, were increased. Student mental health is a concern for the whole college community. Only close cooperation within the college can help prevent serious psychological/psychiatric or learning problems from occurring. The problem arises when the student has serious problems, but do not seek help. Mental pressure - depression, anxiety and stress are felt because of the high internal requirements, such as attempts to be the first or do things perfectly; and the external requirements (evoked by parents and contemporaries, relatives and friends, with the influence of common cultural norms as well). Students are a specific social group which pays a special attention to their studies. People belonging to this group can be vulnerable both from mental and psychological sides. As they face with the teaching load and constant emotional pressure, success in studies and quality of their further life is dependant from their state of mind. The aim of the study is to evaluate prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among college students. Goals: to define psychological - social factors determining psychological - emotional state of mind of students; identify peculiarities of students‘ depression, anxiety and stress experiences;  present some suggestions for improving the situation. Methods: written questionnaire made according to the DASS scale (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale); evaluation of material according to the DASS scale.

Students’ mental health is a pressing issue in today’s college. Good mental health affects the quality of learning, relationships with others, in the end the relationship with yourself. Factors that determine students’ psychological-emotional state of mind were found to be the following: difficult and busy studies, stress, anxiety, and lack of psychological help. Research showed that most of the students have felt stress of different level. The most common is the middle degree of stress. One fifth of students suffer a very high degree of stress. Half of the students have felt low degree of stress during their studies. Middle degree of stress is common to a third of students in each group while high and very high degree of stress – to a fifth in each group. Currently three students are ill with depression. Depressiveness was evidenced for more than half of the students. High degree of depressiveness was diagnosed to a small group. Participants of the research have offered the following alternatives to improve the situation: understanding and support among themselves, establishment of psychological help centre, consultations of psychologist and voluntary work in psychological support centre.