Postgraduate Students’ Mental Health: A Call to Awareness and Action | ||
| Suez Canal University Medical Journal | ||
| Volume 28, Issue 11, November 2025, Pages 1-9 PDF (270.13 K) | ||
| Document Type: Review Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/scumj.2025.384171.1683 | ||
| Author | ||
| Asem Alageel* | ||
| Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh KSA | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Postgraduate students face significant mental health challenges, including high rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. These issues are exacerbated by academic stressors, such as job insecurity, funding difficulties, and imbalances in work-life dynamics. Mental health conditions like major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are particularly prevalent and often co-occur in this demographic. Aim: This review explored the prevalence, contributing factors, and potential interventions for mental health issues among postgraduate students, focusing on depression, anxiety, and their associated risk factors. Subjects/Materials and Methods: This review synthesizes data from multiple studies, analyzing the mental health conditions of postgraduate students worldwide. Key metrics include the prevalence of MDD and GAD, their contributing factors, and associated challenges, such as sleep deprivation, smartphone addiction, and academic pressures. Interventions for improving mental well-being, such as resilience training and wellness programs, are also discussed. Results: Postgraduate students experience elevated rates of mental health disorders, with approximately 41% reporting moderate to severe anxiety, 34% exhibiting symptoms of depression, and 25.7% reports suicidal ideation. Contributing factors include lack of awareness of mental health challenges, smartphone addiction, and excessive academic stress. Interventions like resilience programs and effective time management strategies may mitigate these issues. Conclusions: The findings highlight the urgent need for academic institutions to implement structured wellness programs and provide comprehensive mental health support. Raising awareness, fostering resilience, and addressing systemic academic challenges are essential to improving the mental health outcomes of postgraduate students. Further research is required to develop targeted interventions for students. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Postgraduate student; mental health; depression; anxiety | ||
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