College is often seen as a landmark moment in a young adult’s life, bringing newfound freedom and, ideally, happiness.
However, a concerning new study reveals that the stresses and traumas faced by college students today are significantly impacting their mental health.
Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have reported increasing rates of both PTSD and acute stress disorder diagnoses among students nationwide.
In a comprehensive study spanning 332 colleges and universities across the United States, researchers identified a notable rise in the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) among students from 2017 to 2022.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the research surveyed nearly 400,000 students and found that the prevalence of PTSD cases more than doubled, rising from 3.4% in 2017-2018 to 7.5% by 2021-2022. Acute stress disorder diagnoses also saw a significant increase, climbing from 0.2% to 0.7% over the same period.
PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a terrifying event such as violence, disaster, or abuse. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event.
Acute stress disorder involves similar symptoms but occurs over a shorter period, lasting from three days to one month after trauma. Both conditions can severely disrupt daily life and academic performance.
“These trends highlight the escalating mental health challenges among college students, which is consistent with recent research reporting a surge in psychiatric diagnoses,” lead researcher Dr. Yusen Zhai writes in the report.
The researchers attribute the concerning increases to several factors:
1. The COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic inflicted heavy stress and trauma on many students, including grief over lost loved ones.
2. Campus Shootings and Violence: These incidents are taking a severe psychological toll.
3. Racial Injustice: Societal reckoning with racial injustice may be contributing to racial trauma for some students of color.
These factors compound the typical anxieties of academic pressures, social challenges, and major life transitions that come with being a young adult in college.
PTSD and acute stress are serious issues. If left untreated, they can lead to long-term mental health problems and derail a student’s entire academic career.
In severe cases, these disorders increase the risks of substance abuse, depression, and suicide.
Additionally, PTSD has been linked to reduced workforce productivity when students graduate, and the economic burden of providing healthcare for those with PTSD is substantial.
Colleges and universities have a vested interest in prioritizing mental health resources. The researchers are calling for “targeted, trauma-informed prevention and intervention strategies” from counselors, health services, administrators, and policymakers.
This should include greater access to counseling and therapy, especially trauma-focused treatments, which are most effective for PTSD. Campus support groups, flexible accommodations from faculty, and programs that destigmatize seeking help are also critical.
Outreach and education are crucial, as many students may not recognize they are suffering from treatable conditions like PTSD or acute stress disorder. Increased awareness of symptoms and impacts can help students better manage their mental health.
