Unveiling the invisible struggles: Exploring student perspectives on mental health in universities

In the current academic environment, the increasing prevalence of stress among students has become a critical concern, significantly affecting both mental health and academic outcomes. Factors such as heavy academic workloads, interpersonal conflicts, financial challenges, and societal pressures contribute to cognitive impairments, procrastination, and declining academic performance. Unaddressed, this stress can escalate into severe mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and self-harming tendencies, with marginalized or overwhelmed students being particularly vulnerable. Familial expectations, financial instability, imposter syndrome, fear of missing out, cyberbullying, and unsupportive institutional cultures further intensify these challenges. While mental health support mechanisms exist within institutions, they often remain reactive, addressing issues only after they manifest. To address this growing crisis, a shift toward proactive measures is essential, encompassing counseling, meditation, peer support systems, and engagement in extracurricular activities to foster emotional resilience. A holistic and preventative approach that emphasizes early intervention, open communication, and supportive academic environments is imperative to promote students' well-being and academic success.