Most respondents felt that post-secondary students did not have good mental health ( n = 253 60.5%) and had inadequate coping strategies ( n = 261 62.4%).
Depression and generalized anxiety disorder were the most commonly reported diagnoses. Over a third ( n = 170 38.6%) of respondents reported a formal mental health diagnosis. In total, 448 students across post-secondary institutions in Ontario, Canada, responded to the survey.
MethodsĪ broad-scoping online survey was publicly distributed to post-secondary students, collecting demographic, sociocultural, economic, and educational information while assessing various components of mental health. To address the needs of this population, it is important to understand students' perceptions of mental health and the barriers preventing or limiting their access to care. This elevated prevalence of mental health problems, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, can lead to distress, poor academic performance, and lower job prospects following the completion of education. However, they present meagre rates of treatment-seeking behaviours. Post-secondary students frequently experience high rates of mental health challenges.
