Mental health problems can affect a student's energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering performance. Research suggests that depression is associated with lower grade point averages, and that co-occurring depression and anxiety can increase this association. Depression has also been linked to dropping out of school. Many college students report that mental health difficulties interfere with their studies. On the American College Health Association 2015 survey, college students identified the following mental health issues as negatively impacting their academic performance within the last 12 months:3 e Stress (30% of students)e Anxiety (22%) e Sleep difficulties (20%) e Depression (14%) Refrence for this: e Eisenberg, D., Downs, M., & Golberstein, S. (2009). Stigma and help-seeking for mental health among college students. Medical Care Research and Review, 66(5), 522-541 Suicidal Ideation and Intent Suicidal ideation is defined as a pattern of thinking about or planning one's own deathby one's own hand. Generally, mental health professionals consider overwhelming or highly detailed suicidal thoughts a mental health emergency. A 2018 study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that 1 in 5 U.S. college students experienced thoughts of suicide. More recently, the 2021 Healthy Minds Study reported that 5% of student respondents had planned to commit suicide (without making an attempt) in the past year. Barriers to university students seeking helpBarriers to university students seeking help Most students do not disclose and do not get the help they need.11 Research indicated that 90% of students withemotional problems never used counselling during the previous 6 months.12 More than three- quarters of students with significant distress—that is, requiring mental health services, did not receive counselling.12 Two major factors appear to contribute to inadequate help- seeking: the stigma of having a mental illness and individual characteristics of the student. Stigma Help-seeking is avoided because students perceive that mental health problems indicate weakness, which would have implications for successful career progression.16 Medical students, especially ethnic minority and clinicalstudents, perceive their professional lives to be in jeopardy where psychiatric or emotional health problems emerged and were revealed.10 In addition, female medical students expressed more concern regarding experiencing illness-related academic jeopardy than men, particularly with regards to eating disorders10 A common theme throughout this body of literature is that students are unwilling to seek or receive help from university services because they are concerned that their emotional problems might not be understood and they will be stigmatized by being in emotional distress.5,9,15 Individual characteristicsPeople high in emotion management skills have had better experiences in the past with help-seeking and therefore have more positive outcome expectations for the future and are more willing to seek help.17 Individuals low in emotion management competence are less willing to seek help from family, friends and health professionals, so that the people who need help the most are the least likely to get it.17 Furthermore, individuals with high levels of psyiichological distress might not recognize that their psychowlogical state is unusual. They might not understand that there are effective ways of coping with the distress or know how to obtain helpMost students do not disclose and do not get the help they need.11 Research indicated that 90% of students with emotional problems never used counselling during the previous 6 months.12 More than three- quarters of students with significant distress—that is, requiring mental health services, did not receive counselling.12 Two major factors appear to contribute to inadequate help- seeking: the stigma of having a mental illness and individual characterXistics of the student. Stigma Help-seeking is avoided because students perceive that mental health problems indicate weakness, which wouldhave implications for successful career progression.16 Medical students, especially ethnic minority and clinical students, perceive their professional lives to be in jeopiiardy where psychiatric or emotional health problems emerged and were revealed.10 In addition, female medical students expressed more concern regarding experiencing illness-related academic jeopardy than men, particularly with regards to eating disorders10 A common theme throughout this body of literature is that students are unwilling to seek or receive help from university services because they are concerned that their emotional problemsmight not be understood and they will be stigmatized by being in emotional distress.5,9,15 Individual characteristics People high in emotion management skills have had better experiences in the past with help-seeking and therefore have more positive outcome expectations for the future and are more willing to seek help.17 Individuals low in emotion management competence are less willing to seek help from family, friends and health professionals, so that the people who need help the most are the least likely to get it.17 Furthermore, individuals with high levels of psylichological distress might not recognize that their psychowllogical state isunusual. They might not understand that there are effective ways of coping with the distress or know how to obtain help Refrence: Storrie K, Ahern K, Tuckett A. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 1-6 A systematic review: Students with mental health problems—A growing problem