Economics Discipline, Social Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.
Sociology Discipline, Social Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.
PLoS One. 2023 Feb 9;18(2):e0281649. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281649. eCollection 2023.
Mounting mental health disorders among students has become a significant challenge in producing quality graduates with bright minds. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the underlying causes of students' mental health-related problems and their experiences while living with mental health disorders. This study investigates the causes and exposures of mental health problems among university students in Bangladesh. For this purpose, a qualitative method was used, and an unstructured in-depth interview schedule was used to collect data from students and caregivers. The students were selected from Khulna University, and data were collected in two consecutive months, i.e., November and December 2021. Using a convenient sampling technique, eight (8) students with mental health issues and five (5) caregivers were interviewed to obtain the necessary data.
The findings showed that the intertwined social circumstances led to mental health problems among university students. The students experienced deep depression following a breakup of their romantic affairs/relationships. The prolonged isolation or social distancing due to the government-imposed strict lockdown during the COVID-19 also produced frustration regarding the possible loss of both academic and professional careers. Furthermore, the growing academic pressure in a form of an unfamiliar approach to teaching and learning-online education-also compelled students to complain about depression and suicidal tendencies as parts of their experiences.
This study recommends that the government and policymakers prioritize mental health issues in educational institutions, and they should enforce specific strategies, such as introducing age-specific mental health services and student counseling at educational institutions to reduce growing mental health issues. Furthermore, a positive approach from the family and community is also required to battle against mental health disorders. Besides, nationally representative empirical research is recommended to comprehend the growing mental health issues among students in the 21st century to figure out solutions for the present and the future.
学生的心理健康问题不断增加，成为培养思维敏捷的高质量毕业生的重大挑战。因此，研究学生心理健康相关问题的根本原因及其在患有心理健康障碍时的经历至关重要。本研究调查了孟加拉国大学生心理健康问题的原因和诱因。为此，采用了定性方法，并使用非结构化深度访谈大纲从学生和照顾者那里收集数据。学生从库米拉大学中选取，数据于 2021 年 11 月和 12 月连续两个月收集。使用便利抽样技术，对 8 名患有心理健康问题的学生和 5 名照顾者进行了访谈，以获取必要的数据。
研究结果表明，错综复杂的社会环境导致了大学生的心理健康问题。学生们在浪漫关系/恋爱关系破裂后经历了深深的抑郁。由于 COVID-19 期间政府实施的严格封锁导致长时间的隔离或社交距离，也使他们对可能失去学业和职业机会感到沮丧。此外，以不熟悉的教学方式进行的在线教育带来的日益增加的学业压力，也迫使学生抱怨抑郁和自杀倾向，这也是他们经历的一部分。
本研究建议政府和政策制定者在教育机构中优先考虑心理健康问题，并执行具体的策略，例如在教育机构中引入特定年龄段的心理健康服务和学生咨询，以减少日益严重的心理健康问题。此外，还需要家庭和社区的积极支持来对抗心理健康障碍。此外，建议进行全国代表性的实证研究，以了解 21 世纪学生中日益严重的心理健康问题，为当前和未来寻找解决方案。
