Students of Color Face Higher Levels of Anxiety & Depression

Many college students experience mental health challenges throughout their studies, but new research has revealed that symptoms are prevalent among students who are of a different race than most of their peers, as well as among first-generation students.

According to the study from the University of Georgia, most students experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression said they were not the majority race at their institution.

These students were enrolled in institutions that were primarily white, Erudera.com reports.

Over half of Black and Hispanic students admitted experiencing mild depression, while 17 percent said they had symptoms of moderate or severe depression.

At the predominantly white schools, all students, regardless of race, reported similar levels of anxiety and depression. More than three in every five students said they were experiencing mild to severe anxiety.

At the same time, findings have shown that students of other races rather than black attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have suffered higher levels of anxiety and depression.

“Our study adds to the evidence of how important the work around inclusivity and mental health is in the college environment. It’s important to be mindful that not all students come with the same background, and we need to support them more,” Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, an associate professor in UGA’s College of Public Health, said.

Among the first-generation students, all admitted to experiencing some symptoms of depression. However, most respondents described their depression symptoms as mild, while more than half of those attending a predominantly white university reported suffering from moderate or severe depression.

“I was an international student myself and can relate to the stresses of settling in during the first semester in the U.S. a little bit. Being a first-generation student and experiencing college for the first time in your family comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and it is important that university faculty and staff work towards addressing the challenges,” Rajbhandari-Thapa added.

A previous survey by the Healthy Minds Network, a research organization focusing on youth mental health, revealed that 41 percent of college students in the US experienced mental health struggles during the 2021/22 academic year.

According to the same, of 7,000 participants, 14 have considered taking their own lives last year.

Another joint study by Lumina Foundation and Gallup conducted in the fall of 2022 found that 44 percent of associate degree students and 36 percent of those pursuing a bachelor’s degree have considered quitting their university due to their worsened mental health.

Last year, about 77 percent of US college students reported moderate or serious psychological problems, according to the American College Health Association (ACHA).