Browsing by Subject "University students"

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    Evaluating a mindfulness intervention for improving sleep and mental health in university students
    (2025) Oldjohn, Theophilus; Lipinska, Malgorzata; Henry, Michelle
    Mental health, including depression and anxiety, difficulties are one of the biggest challenges that university students face. These difficulties have an impact on other aspects of functioning such as sleep quality and quantity. However, studies show a bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health challenges, hence continous poor sleep may lead to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness has been recognised as an accessable treatments used to improve sleep and reduce mental health problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate mindfulness as an intervention for poor sleep, and subsequent mental health challenges in university students. The participants were divided into two groups, an intervention group (n = 20) that received mindfulness training and a control group (n = 18) that did not. The treatment intervention consisted of a daily 20- minute audio guided exercise which was completed over a 7-day period. I measured sleep quality, depressive and anxiety-related symptoms, and academic performance before and after the intervention/control period. Results showed no improvement in sleep quality and anxiety- related symptoms between the intervention and control groups. However, there was a decrease in depressive symptoms in participants who completed the mindfulness intervention. These findings highlight the positive influence of mindfulness on depressive symptoms in university students. However, future studies should further investigate the associations between mindfulness, sleep quality and mental health outcomes in students, who are vulnerable to a high burden of mental health difficulties.
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    Inequality and mental healthcare utilisation among first-year university students in South Africa
    (2020-01-25) Bantjes, Jason; Saal, Wylene; Lochner, Christine; Roos, Janine; Auerbach, Randy P; Mortier, Philippe; Bruffaerts, Ronny; Kessler, Ronald C; Stein, Dan J
    Abstract Background Addressing inequalities in mental healthcare utilisation among university students is important for socio-political transformation, particularly in countries with a history of educational exclusion. Methods As part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, we investigated inequalities in mental healthcare utilisation among first-year students at two historically “White” universities in South Africa. Data were collected via a web-based survey from first-year university students (n = 1402) to assess 12-month mental healthcare utilisation, common mental disorders, and suicidality. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between sociodemographic variables and mental healthcare utilisation, controlling for common mental disorders and suicidality. Results A total of 18.1% of students utilised mental healthcare in the past 12 months, with only 28.9% of students with mental disorders receiving treatment (ranging from 28.1% for ADHD to 64.3% for bipolar spectrum disorder). Of those receiving treatment, 52.0% used psychotropic medication, 47.3% received psychotherapy, and 5.4% consulted a traditional healer. Treatment rates for suicidal ideation, plan and attempt were 25.4%, 41.6% and 52.9%, respectively. In multivariate regression models that control for the main effects of mental health variables and all possible joint effects of sociodemographic variables, the likelihood of treatment was lower among males (aOR = 0.57) and Black students (aOR = 0.52). An interaction was observed between sexual orientation and first generation status; among second-generation students, the odds of treatment were higher for students reporting an atypical sexual orientation (aOR = 1.55), while among students with atypical sexual orientations, the likelihood of mental healthcare utilisation was lower for first-generation students (aOR = 0.29). Odds of treatment were significantly elevated among students with major depressive disorder (aOR = 1.88), generalised anxiety disorder (aOR = 2.34), bipolar spectrum disorder (aOR = 4.07), drug use disorder (aOR = 3.45), suicidal ideation (without plan or attempt) (aOR = 2.00), suicide plan (without attempt) (aOR = 3.64) and suicide attempt (aOR = 4.57). Likelihood of treatment increased with level of suicidality, but not number of mental disorders. Conclusion We found very low mental healthcare treatment utilisation among first-year university students in South Africa, with enduring disparities among historically marginalised groups. Campus-based interventions are needed to promote mental healthcare utilisation by first-year students in South Africa, especially among male and Black students and first-generation students with atypical sexual orientations.