Introduction to the Special Issue on College Student Mental Health

Abstract

Student mental health problems are a growing concern on college campuses. Studies covered in this special issue have implications for policy development regarding college alcohol use and traumatic victimization, include attention to underrepresented minority and immigrant groups on college campuses, and focus on positive as well as pathological aspects of the college experience.

Identity in young adulthood: Links with mental health and risky behavior

“…The present study was conducted as part of the Multi-site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC; Castillo & Schwartz, 2013;Weisskirch et al, 2013). Sites were selected so as to provide a geographic representation of the United States.…”

Responding to mental health issues in the college classroom

“…My hope is that we seriously consider this question and this forum, not simply for future scholarship, but for the sake of our students, many of whom navigate mental health issues and related stigmas on a daily basis. Concerns about the mental health of students have been documented at every level of formal education (cf., Castillo & Schwartz, 2013;Durlak & Wells, 1997;Soet & Sevig, 2006). Addressing the entirety of these concerns is beyond the scope of this forum, thus my comments are geared primarily toward higher education; however, much of what follows may certainly extend to other traditional (e.g., K-12 classrooms) and nontraditional settings of instruction (e.g., organizations).…”

“…Regrettably, discussions of students' mental health within the popular press are often sparked by horrendous acts of violence (Castillo & Schwartz, 2013). Mass shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University brought mainstream attention to the mental well-being of students in college, years after similar discussions were prompted about high school students following the tragedy in Columbine .…”

Untitled

“…[2][3][4] This fact has been the objective of many investigations and has aroused growing concern of researchers. [4][5][6] It is known that the psychological disorder presented by university students can be reflected in different ways that includes suffering psychological, as depressive symptoms and anxiety. 6 The anxiety can be described as a condition of state and trait, in which the first is understood as a transitional emotional state, characterized by feelings of tension that vary in intensity over time; and the second refers to personal disposition, moderately stable, to react to situations perceived as threatening.…”