Measuring and monitoring mental health

Measuring and monitoring student mental health refer to the strategies put in place to gain access to valid, up-to-date information on the mental health status of the student population.  Surveys have been carried out in Quebec colleges and universities and have revealed the extent of distress within the student community.

• 58% of university students have high levels of psychological distress (Union étudiante du Québec, 2019).
• 19% of university students have depressive symptoms severe enough to require medical or psychological support (Union étudiante du Québec, 2019).
• Students are 3 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than the general population, and 2 times more likely to have attempted suicide (Union étudiante du Québec, 2019).
• The rate of suicidal thoughts and psychological distress recorded among the student population on the Université de Montréal campus is higher than the average for the Quebec population of the same age (Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal, 2016)
• 35% of College students surveyed felt anxious at all times and 18% had suicidal thoughts (Gosselin and Ducharme, 2017)
• Approximately one in three CEGEP students show signs consistent with a depressive disorder (Gallais et al. 2022).
• 64% of the College student population saw their psychological health deteriorate as a result of the pandemic crisis (FECQ, 2021).

Access to this data helps to match needs with the actions implemented to support student mental health. For the sake of equity, analyzing mental health data according to student profiles can help identify specific needs and offer services tailored to those for whom mental health is more at risk.

References

Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (2021) Plan d’action sur la santé mentale étudiante en enseignement supérieur 2021-2026

Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS). The Post-Secondary Student Mental Health: Guide to a Systemic Approach

Union étudiante du Québec (2019) Enquête Sous ta façade

Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (2016) Enquête sur la santé psychologique étudiante  

Gosselin, M-A. et Ducharme, R. (2017) Détresse et anxiété chez les étudiants du collégial et recours aux services d’aide socioaffectifs

ECOBES (2022) Adaptation psychologique et adaptation aux études à distance des étudiants collégiaux face à la crise de la COVID-19

Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (2021) Derrière ton écran