Mental Health Status among Islamic University Students in Kushtia, Bangladesh

Abstract Background and aims: Mental health is an essential issue for the youth generation, especially students. Various factors affect student’s mental health. This study aims to assess the mental health status (e.g., depression, anxiety, stress, and positive mental health) of university students in Kushtia, Bangladesh.Methods: The sample comprised 325 public university students, including 202 male and female 123 with a mean age of 23.26 years (SD = 1.79). Cross-sectional survey research was conducted using a structured questionnaire. All data was collected using the questionnaire that included the DASS-21 and PMH-9 scales. The collected data were examined using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Pearson correlation by SPSS version 26, and Microsoft Excel version 19.Results: According to the DASS-21 scale, A substantial number (35.7%) of Islamic university students had moderate depression. Many students reported severe (18.8%) and extremely severe (12.9%) depression. One-third of total students suffer extremely severe (33.5%) anxiety followed by severe (13.2%) and moderate (26.8%). After the COVID-19 pandemic, 25.5% of students reported overall moderate stress, 8.3% severe, and 1.2% extremely severe stress. Overall, the prevalence rate of moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress was 67.4%, 73.5%, and 35.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Further research is required to comprehend the high prevalence of mental health issues and design a better intervention and support program for students. This research may assist university authorities in understanding student mental health and taking proper measures. According to the study, university student mental health requires continual, appropriate interventions, support networks, and awareness campaigns.