Prevalence of psychological distress in university students: Implications for service delivery

Abstract

Background
Mental health problems are one of the leading causes of disability in
Australia. General practitioners are often the first and only point of
service for people suffering mental health problems, while many do
not access services at all. University students can face numerous
stressors in addition to academic demands that can contribute to the
development or exacerbation of mental health problems.
Objective
The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of psychological
symptoms in students who were patients at a university health service to
enable appropriate planning of services to meet the needs of students.
Methods
Participants were 384 students attending a university health service in
urban Queensland over a period of 4 weeks during semester. At their
first visit, patients completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale,
a measure of psychological distress.
Results
Results showed there were significantly more patients experiencing
high levels of distress compared with the general population and,
consistent with the general population, almost two-thirds had not
sought assistance for this distress. Increased distress was associated
with increased disability among students.
Discussion
Within a university setting, co-location of specialist mental health
services can promote a team approach to mental health care, with GPs,
psychiatrists and clinical psychologists working together to increase
the availability of care to students in need. The recent introduction of
Medicare items for psychological treatment also facilitates greater
access to clinical psychologists and other mental health professionals.