Ginny Dalton, Claudia Dolak,

Kayla Roulhac, Kelsey Svaasand,

Kaylea Tolchin, Maggie Townes
English 255
Dr. Swanson
14 November 2018

Literature Review

The following literature review is a group project that will discuss, explain, and inform the
reader about common mental illnesses that are present in college students, and how to find help
for the illnesses mentioned. Each group member was responsible for a unique subtopic within
mental illness, and equally contributed to the completion of this paper.

Claudia Dolak
What is Mental Health
Mental health directly affects our emotional, psychological, and social contentment. It is
also a key component in our decision-making process and actions. Mental illness can occur at
any stage in life and is treatable. It is important to identify the causes at an early stage. A variety
of factors such as biological, life experiences, or family history can contribute to one’s mental
and physical well-being (What is Mental Health?). Those who suffer from a mental illness are
rarely ever productive, struggle maintaining healthy relationships, and have difficulty adapting to
change. It is important to acknowledge that mental health is the foundation for emotions,
problem-solving, communication, learning, and self-esteem. Typically, those who suffer from a
mental illness have trouble opening up to others. It is considered a mental condition, but is easily
treatable through counseling or medication. We are continuing to expand our basic
understanding of mental illness, and the use of modern technology is becoming available to
patients.
Who is Affected
Mental illness can affect everyone – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual
orientation, or religious background. It is more prevalent in young adults because they are
constantly struggling with stress and coping mechanisms. College students are at great risk
because they are constantly dealing with financial issues, pressured to maintain a scholarship, or
achieve academic success. While mental illness can develop during any stage in life,
three-fourths of all illness occurs before the age of twenty-four (Parekh, 2018). As a student, you
may be faced with the challenges of leaving home for the first time, learning to be independent,
meeting new people, and barely getting a healthy amount of sleep. If you have been lashing out
or feeling hopeless for more than two weeks, you could be experiencing anxiety and depression.
It is important to recognize that sadness is a minor symptom of depression. Those struggling with
depression could just feel angry or irritable. It interferes with your daily activities.
Common Disorders
The most common disorders among college students include major depression, persistent
depressive disorder, and psychotic depression that eventually get worse with time (Buchanan,
2012). Clinical depression takes on many forms, and the symptoms are easily identified. One
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may feel empty, have a loss of interest in daily activities, have difficulty sleeping or
oversleeping, appetite loss, and/or thoughts of suicide (Buchanan, 2012). If you are experiencing
these symptoms, you need to seek psychiatric care immediately. According to the Learn
Psychology website, 20% of college students claim they feel stressed more than half the time,
10% of college students claim they thought about suicide, 34% of college students claim they
have experienced chronic depression at one point in ninety days, and 80% of college students
claim they often feel stressed (Surviving Stress in College and Beyond). These statistics prove
that there are others in a similar situation.

Kaylea Tolchin
Mental Illness and Genders
When beginning to research the social, psychological, and biological factors that may
impact mental illness, it is imperative to pay attention to gender. It is believed that the link
between mental illness and gender is one of today’s most “intriguing and stable findings”
(Reicher-Rosser, 2016) in the world of psychiatry. However, while this may be true, and there
exists numerous theories on why one group of people may suffer from mental illness more than
another, they are just that; theories. The research available in this area is lacking.
According to the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, a group of psychologists that reviewed the
gender gap concluded that women may be more susceptible to mental illnesses such as
depression and anxiety than men due to the extended life-long fluctuation of the hormones that
control comprehension and behavioral processes. The review was done in the hopes of finding an
explanation for the existence of the gender gap. In reviewing data disclosed from the American
Health Association (Brown, 2017), it was found that “33.3% of women in college and 26.9% of
their male counterparts report they have at some point ‘felt so depressed that it was difficult to
function.’” Simultaneously, women who have a mental illness are more likely to seek assistance
or guidance than men. There exists less of a social stigma for women than men when it comes to
dealing with a mental illness. The reason for this may be because women are more ready to
openly talk about their feelings than men. Because of this, over 80% of men who are dealing
with a mental illness turn to drugs and alcohol (RAMH, 2018).
Studies show mental illness may also be more common in women than men because they
are more likely to have experienced some form of domestic or sexual abuse. According to
research conducted by Oram and colleagues (Reicher-Rosser, 2016), women more often
experience varying types of “gender based violence,” and this directly relates to an association
with depression, anxiety, and post traumatic disorders. While it is not always true that women are
more likely to experience domestic abuse, the majority of domestic and sexual violence cases
that are filed every year are from women.
Mental Illness Among College Campuses
Unfortunately, there is a very relevant “stigma” in regards to those who suffer from
mental illness. Due to this, talking about the symptoms, seeking assistance, and existing among
the general college public proves to be more than just the everyday norm. Through research
found in the Journal of American College Health (Salzer, 2011) comparing the general college
public to students with mental illness, over 86% of college students suffering from a mental
illness drop out of college prior to their graduation date. Contrast this with the 45% of the
general college population that withdraws through the duration of their time at a university, and
the number almost doubles. The reasons for this number range from inability to speak about
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conditions to lack of facilities available for assistance. With that said, the stress circulated by the
social stigma may also cause an increase in the desire to reveal a mental illness as a means of
creating empathy or accumulating “social support.” The research concluded that both groups of
students face the same barriers while in college; tuition, lack of confidence, and former academic
ability. However, students with mental illness experienced greater problems in regards to social
activity such as campus organizations and clubs.
One study done by [Link] reviewed various tweets created by college students
throughout the country written about college and the stressors it causes (MentalHealth, 2018).
The findings revealed that the majority of stressed students reside in New York, which is home
to many prestigious schools. It was also found that a large majority, about half, of student suffer
from sleep deprivation. This is a direct link to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.

Maggie Townes
Social Media’s Effect on the Mental Health of Young Adults
While it is apparent that sleep deprivation is a cause of depression in students, a cause of
sleep deprivation is social media. Years ago, humans woke up and fell asleep with the sunrise
and sunset. Darkness helps the brain to produce melatonin, a chemical that helps to facilitate
sleep (Brown, 2018). The most disruptive type of light is blue light, often emitted by phone and
laptop screens (Brown, 2018). Just one phone check in the dark before bed is enough to hinder
one’s quality of rest. Though the addiction to said devices is also a major contributor to the lack
of sleep, as time spent on social media can cut into rest time.
Addiction
A study was conducted by the Nottingham Trent University that reviewed earlier research
on Social Networking sites or SNS (Walton, 2014). They identified 5 categories of internet
addiction that are defined as: “(1) Computer Game Addiction, (2) Web Surfing Addiction, (3)
Online Gambling/Shopping Addiction, (4) Cybersexual Addiction and (5) Online Relationship
Addiction (Kuss, et al., 2011).” Social networking addiction falls under the 5th category of
Online Relationship Addiction, they found the condition to be potent enough to define it as it’s
own “Facebook Addiction Disorder” even though it is nowhere to be found in the DSM-5 (Kuss,
et al., 2011). This is because people who overuse social networking sites meet most criteria for
addiction, that being neglect of personal life, escapism, mood modifying experiences, tolerance,
mental preoccupation, and efforts to conceal said preoccupation(Kuss, et al., 2011). A study from
Swansea University found that after SNS addicts remove themselves from their public personas
they experience withdrawal (Reed, et al., 2017). They not only experience heightened anxiety
after cessation, but also increased blood pressure and heart rate (Reed, et al., 2017).
Depression
In the journal of ​Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking ​Alexandra Hamlet,
PsyD, stated that “The less you are connected with human beings in a deep, empathic way, the
less you’re really getting the benefits of a social interaction,” she went on to explain “The more
superficial it is, the less likely it’s going to cause you to feel connected, which is something we
all need (Pantic, 2014).” The one exception to the correlation between depression and social
media is females who use social media frequently in conjunction with high levels of in-person
social interaction (Miller, 2012). The other exception is individuals who have trouble making
meaningful connections offline. Their use of social media can sometimes be lifesaving (Miller
2012). In short, humans need genuine social interaction to maintain good mental health. Social
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media can stand in the way of that as it is not as authentic, however it is better than no interaction
at all. In two studies done in 2012, involving more than 700 college students were surveyed on
depressive symptoms and social networking (Davila, 2012). The results found that it was the
quality of social media interaction, not quantity that determined the levels of depression created
from the platform (Brown, 2018). They also found that depressive rumination and co-rumination
was a commonly reported effect among the participants (Davila, 2012). A study that used similar
methodology and surveyed 1,700 young adults found that the participants who used the most
social media platforms were three times more likely to be at risk for depression than those who
used the least (Primack, et al., 2017). The reasons behind this increase improbability were said to
be cyber-bullying, comparing the distorted highlight reel that they see online to their own reality,
and feeling like they are wasting their time online (Brown, 2018).
The bridge between Facebook and depression is revealed in a study published by the
Journal titled “Computers in Human Behavior” to be envy (Tandoc, 2015). After surveying
about 600 people, they found that the social networking site created a vicious cycle (Tandoc,
2015). People who come across posts that inspired envy tended to upload posts created with the
intention to inspire that same jealousy, then the cycle repeats (Walton, 2017).

Kelsey Svaasand
Common Surveys to Collect Data from Large Pools
Most of the studies related to college students stress and mental health are just a piling of
statistics taken from a pool of surveyed students. For example, a study done for a college in
India, calculated a sample size of 1,200 people, in which they then had fill out an anonymous
questionnaire in order to collect data, (​Waghachavare​, 2013). This particular study, chose to
administer the surveys to college students in were believed to be working through the highest
stress environments. The pool of students were involved in the medical school, dentistry school,
and engineering school. Within the students in this environment, it was concluded that 48.82%
of the students were struggling with their mental health, whether is be from mild stressors, to
severe stress, (​Waghachavare​, 2013). From another pool of applicants studied at the University
of California - Berkeley, it was found that 57% of women and 40% of men have reported that
since entering school, they have developed severe anxiety, (Henriques, 2014). These pools of
data easily show that the mental health of college students across the world are at a very
unhealthy state and are continuing to decline.
Long-Term Study of Mental Health
A New York Times study has been collecting data on the mental health of incoming
college freshman for over twenty five years. Although the mental health status of college
students has not always been the greatest, the number of students recording that they feel like
they are in a good emotional and mental state are declining each year as well as the number of
students who report that they have or are currently struggling with mental health issues are
rising. In 1985, the percentage of students that said their mental health was above average was
64%, however, in 2011 it fell to 52% and continues to decline (Lewin, 2011). The economy is a
large factor in the growth of college students stress levels. As tuition prices rise each year,
students are consistently worrying about the financial burden on their parents, as well as the
unknown state of their own financial situation once they graduate. Stressing about if they will
even find a job after school in order to pay back their student loans is a huge burden on a
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students every day mental health, which causes much built up stressors, as a result, adding the
declination of mental health status as shown over the years through this long term study.
Mental Health Declines Before Even Entering College
As we study the many stressors of college students, many researchers approach current
college students to find their data. However, an NYU study used a pool of late highschool
students in order to find where all the stress begins to collect. Much of the pressure being placed
on high school students all correlates to the need for them to be accepted into a selective college
or university. “School work, college applications, extracurricular activities, and parental
expectations all contribute to teenagers’ stress,” (James, 2015). This study proves however, that
once these stressors begin to collect in the mind of teenagers, they do not go away. Once they
get accepted into a school, whether it be of their top choice or not, the new stress of the college
world does not simply replace the old stress of simply trying to enter this world, but it just adds
on top of it. As time goes on, the stress placed upon students begins at younger and younger
ages, considering everything is becoming more and more selective. “It’s more competitive than
ever to get into college,” (Ossosla, 2015). With colleges becoming more and more selective,
parents are pushing their children to work harder earlier, which allows for the stress to being to
build earlier, starting the mental health decline way before even entering college.

Ginny Dalton
Issues Among College Students
Statistics on Mental Illness
Mental illness is a topic that is not often talked about in society, but is more common than
most people think. One member of a suicide prevention club and a former student of the
University of Mississippi stated, “I think a lot of people don’t realize that mental illness is a
totally normal thing to experience. It’s a part of life, just like any other physical illness (Sabatke,
2016).”
People tend to stray away from the discussion of mental illness because a stigma has been
placed on it. The lack of awareness for mental health among college students has increased the
suicide rates, and also makes students feel like they cannot come forward and get the help they
need. According to the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “Suicide,
although not a specific diagnosis, is the third leading cause of death among young adults and is a
significant problem among college students (Downs MF, 2014.).” The numbers of students
suffering from mental illness continues to increase as the years go on. Studies have shown that
18.5% of United States population experiences a mental illness every year, and 0.7% of that
population are students who have reported that they are suffering and need help (Lee, 2018).
That number may not seem like a lot but that is almost half of the number of people suffering
with a mental illness overall. In the United States the number of youth suffering in 2016 was
11.93% and in 2017 the number increased to 12.63% (Mental Health America, 2018). That is a
0.7% increase within a year. Not only in the United States do the numbers continue to increase,
they are also increasing in different countries. All over the world people are suffering from a
mental illness of some type. When comparing the United States numbers to other countries
numbers we can come to the conclusion that the United States has a high percentage of people
who are suffering from a mental disorder. When looking at charts we place higher than a
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majority of the other countries. “Countries with the highest amount of mental health disorders
were United States, Ukraine, Colombia, New Zealand, Lebanon, and France averaging about
20% of the population (Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services, 2018).
​Treatment options
Universities have started to add more funding towards providing ways students can get
the help they need when they are on campus and struggling with a mental disorder. Universities
offer counseling, support clubs, awareness campaigns for people, and even the local campus
health center has the ability to provide prescriptions for the mental disorders that need them. In
the fall of 2018, the University of Tennessee had a new group come about called, Active Minds
at UTK. This a group of people who are mental health advocates who are here to help students
who are suffering (Stafford, 2018). They also want to end the stigma associated with mental
illnesses. Active Minds is free to join and provides students with the opportunity to meet other
people who share the same illnesses as them. Meeting someone who you can relate to could
result in an easier healing process because you have someone to help you through whatever you
are going through.
Some students may not be comfortable with expressing their mental illness with other
students, so for that reason the campus has also provided a counseling center located at Student
Health Building, on the second floor. They provide psychiatric help to those in need and if you
need them after their office hours the campus has provided this phone number you can call to
receive help (865)-974-2196 (UTK, 2018). According to the American Psychological
Association, “For some students, a single session with a mental health professional is all they
need, perhaps to help them problem-solve or talk about a personal concern.” (Notovey, 2014).
College campuses will continue to expand on their mental illness awareness because their needs
to be a decrease in the number of students that are suffering. Studies have shown that 62% of
college students are struggling with a mental disorder but have not received any treatments.
(Notovey, 2014).

Kayla Roulhac
Common Mental Illnesses Found on College Campuses
When analyzing the mental health of average college students it is not obvious that “[f]or
many students, mental health struggles predated college, but are exacerbated by the pressures of
college life.” (Reilly, 2018). There are many causes for mental illnesses, but only a select few are
prevalent among college students. Several are more common than others such as depression,
anxiety, and eating disorders (Atkins, et al., 2018). Though these disorders are all different in
their own way, they still have lasting impacts on those that suffer. Unfortunately, there has been
a negative connotation placed on getting help since “only 15% of college student utilize their
campus counseling centers (“One-Third”, 2018).” The positive thing about this number is that is
has increased recently, and will continue to grow in the future if more awareness is spread. Now,
many people are afraid to get help, but that should not be or have ever been the case.
Mental Illness at the University of Tennessee
Although many students are wanting to receive help, there are not enough resources
provided to those who have a mental illness. “In the United States, ​19.5 people per every
100,000 die by suicide​ each year, and there are the largest amounts of suicides committed by
those that are from ages 15-24 (Ohm, 2017).” Those aged 15-24 are students that are either
completing standardized testing for college or attending college or graduate school. This is a
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time of unmatched stress, and it is very common for the average student to develop a mental
illness. “Evidence suggests that this group has greater levels of stress and psychopathology than
any time in the nation’s history,” and it’s clear to see that many students’ mental health is
declining as a result (Henriques, 2014). When looking at a specific example, such as the
University of Tennessee, many services are offered, but they are rarely discussed along with
mental health awareness. When examining an article from Knox News, many students shared
their shock and disbelief that someone so close to them, that was a student at this university, had
committed suicide. They also continued to say that mental illness is “so prevalent on campus and
it's not really talked about (Ohm, 2017).”
What Should Be Done
As a result of this prevalent presence of mental illness on campuses, many schools are
attempting to spend more time and money to better their campus counseling centers. “As
colleges try to meet the growing demand, some students are slipping through the cracks due to
long waits for treatment and a lasting stigma associated with mental health issues (Reilly,
2018).” If only there was more information and support provided to college students squashing
this negative stigma, then more students would attempt to receive help. The university needs to
shine a light on this issue of its minimal mental health awareness, as it shines on many other
important issues on campus because reaching only one person could still save a life. There are so
many on this campus that are incredibly stressed and overwhelmed. These traits can both easily
and quickly turn into a mental illness if someone does not step in to offer aid. This information
does, however, provide the university with the evidence to show that changes need to be made.
More awareness needs to be brought to mental illness and the treatment options in order to help
people with conditions and to end the stigma. One should never be afraid to receive help or talk
about their negative experiences and thoughts because they’re worried about how others will
view them. A change must be made and there is no better time than today.
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