Claudia Calleja
Anxiety, depression affect half of first-year university students
University students need to learn how to find methods to cope with stress that can lead to mental health problems. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Half of first-year University students feel some level of anxiety or depression which they find problematic, according to preliminary results of a study about mental health on campus.
This does not mean that half the students have mental health problems and need therapy or medication, psychiatrist David Cassar cautioned.
One had to keep in mind that first-year students were facing the daunting new and stressful world of university, added Dr Cassar, who is the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the university.
He explained how the department, with the collaboration of the pro-rector’s office, was carrying out a five-year research study into the mental health of students.
Last year, the first year of the study, 1,333 first-year students from various courses were given a questionnaire to fill in at the beginning and at the end of their course. The same students will be followed for five years.
Dr Cassar yesterday gave an overview of the preliminary results following last year’s interviews.
He was speaking during a conference organised by the Malta Medical Students’ Association to mark World Mental Health Day yesterday.
The results showed that 51 per cent of students experienced anxiety or depression to a level which they felt was a problem to them. Another 31 per cent of students felt they had some form of eating disorder which did not necessarily mean it was as extreme as anorexia or bulimia.
About 17 per cent thought their alcohol habit was affecting their lives, while four per cent felt they had an issue with drugs.
A pilot study carried out on first-year medical students two years ago, before the five-year research started, showed that 11.4 per cent felt bullied, 14.6 per cent felt lonely and 7.4 per cent sought help.
Dr Cassar said mental health problems affected the manner in which a student performed at university and could be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress.
For this reason it was important for students to learn to ask for help if they felt weighed down, he said, adding that the University offered a counselling service.
Dr Cassar urged students to find methods of coping with stress by, for example, learning what study method worked for them, not comparing themselves to peers, accepting their limits and not pushing themselves too hard.
He pointed out that it was normal for a person to forget what they had studied. Learning was a chemical process that went on in the brain and this took time. Research showed that the average student remembered three minutes from an hour-long lecture. It also showed that if a student learnt something today, he would remember 20 per cent of it within a month.
This would increase to about 50 or 60 per cent if the student reviewed the topic after a week.
Dr Cassar urged students not to underestimate the importance of leisure time adding that it was important to take breaks and enjoy time off studying. This actually was beneficial to memorising as research showed the best study pattern involved studying for 20 minute sessions broken up by 10 minute breaks.
University pro-rector Mary Anne Lauri said she was pleased to see that over the past two years students were speaking up about mental health problems and asking for help. This showed they were breaking through the taboo.
In a statement issued to mark World Mental Health Day, Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said depression and anxiety were on the increase and urged people suffering from mental health problems to ask for help.
On a similar note, Health Minister Joseph Cassar yesterday visited Maia Psychology Centre, a private clinic in Naxxar, which launched a computerised cognitive behavioural programme to treat mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
The centre entered into a partnership with UK healthcare company Ultrasis that made its treatment programme – Beating the Blues – available at the centre.
Through the programme a patient is assessed by a psychologist before being given a password to access the online programme at home.
The programme consists of 50-minute sessions to be held once a week for eight weeks.
During a visit to Saint James Hospital, Sliema, Labour leader Joseph Muscat also called for more public-private partnerships in the health sector. He said such partnerships should not take place through individual tenders but as part of a longsighted strategy.
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Milly Moss
Oct 17th 2011, 03:15
Would social networking sites that globally connect people allowing people to discuss how they are feeling to people who can relate, build relationships and support help people with social anxiety? or will it take them further away from the real world?? I think it will provide the sort of support doctors or friends and family that don't understand cannot provide, they simply don't understand, and how could they... I joined social-medicine.org/anxiety - new but the concept it excellent.
Dr Ali Nawaz
Oct 14th 2011, 15:29
Medical students are under a lot of stress and I remember I visited a psychiatrist with the issue that I was having difficulty in devising the study methodology and was feeling stressed. Few of our colleagues also took anti-depressants. It is encouraging that such studies are being carried out to address mental health issues.
Andrea Demarco
Oct 11th 2011, 16:30
I really don't see the point of people ranting about how the University itself runs it's courses, or the stipend system with this particular article. It seems the keyword 'University' in an article is enough for people to start ranting and moaning about everything.
Getting back to the subject:
I would be interested in having better figures for these results. You can't just put up percentages without any ranges and categories - its a very unprofessional and meaningless way of presenting results..
I'm sure anxiety and depression (even undiagnosed) exists everywhere. But is this REALLY present for half the students?
Having been a 'first year' uni student myself not so long ago (and now a postgrad), and in not one of the most straightforward courses, I think that students should learn to 'man up' and realise they're adults. Uni years are some of the best years of your life IMHO, a place to discover yourself, a place to enjoy yourself, and a place to grow up, hopefully.
Things get a lot more 'stressful' (if we are to use that scale) when you have an 8 to 6pm job, with some very unappreciative and demanding bosses. What then? Will we say all the Maltese workforce is depressed?
I think it's become the norm to confuse work and duty with "stress" - We have to stop expecting the world to run itself whilst we're apathetic and lethargic to anything requiring activity and motivation.
We have to stop becoming a society of permanent adolescents.
Mr Angus Black
Oct 11th 2011, 13:52
University students in Malta are paid to attend classes.
University tuition is FREE in Malta.
University graduates in Malta do not finish their studies owing e200,00 or more which takes years to pay back.
No matter how inefficiebt ARRIVA may be, distances in Malta are such that waking up ten minutes earlier will reach one to his/her destination in time. ARRIVA is NOT a taxi service.
UofM students do not have to leave their family/town in order to attend university.
The stress on the first year of university are minimal compared to years three, four.
How many of the foreign students (approx 500) suffer from stress?
University students in foreign countries PAY thousands each year to attend university.
University tuition in overseas countries are definitely NOT free.
University students overseas have to travel much larger distances even if the Uni is in-town.
Out of town Uni students have to rent an apartment on top of paying tuition fees or pay top rents for student accommodation on university campus.
First year students in overseas countries are known to have too much fun at times, often requiring police intervention and rarely one hears that a fun loving young student is suffering from the remotest kind of stress/depression.
Those in Malta suffering stress/depression on year one are the ones who are either not mature enough to attend university or are ill prepared to face the higher commitments.
Overseas students are, generally speaking, not spoiled brats.
Ms Francesca Abela
Oct 11th 2011, 13:09
No doubt Arriva is also adding to their stress, University buses are often late causing students to miss or arrive late for lectures!
A Caruana
Oct 12th 2011, 20:09
Yesterday the 204 to Marsascala did not make the 5.05pm trip from University , students were left stranded yet again! This morning my son took the 6.30am 204 from Marsascala to University and arrived at 8.05am! It is clear the timing is wrong somewhere especially during rush hour traffic the times needs to be changed.
M Cassar
Oct 11th 2011, 12:01
And how does this this metal issues figure compare with those thousands starting universities abroad? I would think that similar studies have been conducted elsewhere. Were steps taken to ascertain the causes, were any remedial actions suggested/taken and can we learn from them? Could these causes, to a certain extent, be similar to the causes for Maltese students. Because let us face it, most students in Malta do not have an accommodation problem or a fee problem or the problem of mooving to another, unfamiliar city, and live in what looks like a shoe box AND have to do the shopping and prepare their own meals.
One wonders......
Paul Smith
Oct 11th 2011, 11:03
Legalize Cannabis, all the students will chill out relax and be creative.
Mr Victor vella
Oct 11th 2011, 11:03
Ghadna biex niftahru. We are having students of textbooks with no creativity and new horizons. Min jidhol l-universita gidra jkun u gidra iktar johrog.
Gordon Galea
Oct 11th 2011, 11:37
Clearly, you have no clue re Uni.
Mr Mark Demicoli
Oct 11th 2011, 12:07
Ex-student universitarju int Sur Vella? Qed tkellimna mill-esperjenza tieghek?
I've graduated two years ago, I learnt, did my best, had dull and bright moments but I made it. Ok University lacks a lot of hands on experience and practicals, at least in some of the courses but most of all University teaches you how to THINK, be creative and innovative!
John Scerri
Oct 11th 2011, 12:49
Int bis serjeta' ? Hares lejn Dr.Joseph Muscat , Dom Mintoff, Dr.Gonzi, L-president ,u hafna ohrajn Dawn ilkoll gdur skont int ??
Jidher li kont tattendi xi Universita ohra int ! dik tal- 'Little knowledge is Dangerous' hux hekk ?
Max Portelli
Oct 11th 2011, 13:24
Jaqaw inti wiehed minn dawn li temmen biss fl-universita' tal-hajja? Nixtieq inkun naf min tahseb li int biex tghid hekk.
Fil-verita nahseb inti u jien u l-kumplament ta' min qara dan il-kumment jaf min huwa l-gidra.
M Sciberras
Oct 11th 2011, 14:21
There is more than an element of truth in what Victor vella says. I have experience of Uni as a student and as someone who sat on recruitment panels in private companies. There are hundreds of graduates in malta in subjects such as Communications or Theatre Studies. When they invariably failed to find a paying job that needed a fraction of what they studied, they applied for other jobs (if at all - the number of children of parents who are well off, generally girls, who are not particularly concerned about finding a real job in 2010 Malta is staggering). When they were evaluated, it was their characters that was the most important measure to guage, and training was invariably needed in the areas where they were required, which involved a basic knowledge of sales, accounting or IT. One charming girl listed Facebook and Twitter amongst her knoweldge of computer applications. Other so called graduates had to start off as receptionists - not because there were or are no jobs available because they are not fit for any of them. This gross waste of taxpayers money needs to be faced up to. Malta needs engineers and IT technicians, and the more female engineers and executives the better, not experts in 'European Studies' or Media Studies. European studies, for example, is only worth studying as a post grad degree where one will already have acquired a solid foundation in economics and finance. But no maltese politician will dare bring this up, for fear of being accused of abandoning the concept of a free tertiary education or of reintroducing some sort of numerus clausus.
Mr Joseph Aquilina
Oct 11th 2011, 10:55
Such studies are important, however they help no one when splashed front page!! (Or better, they only help a certain clinic to possibly increase profits). Everyone (and not just student) might get sick (mentally or physically) just by thinking they are sick. In short, there are many out there that once hearing the symptoms of a certain sickness; they actually start having those sickness. This is similar to the placebo effect just the opposite. In short, from a University I would have expected much better, such as; understanding the result of the reports, suggesting ways to students how they can improve their mental health, without SUGGESTING that depression and a anxiety is widespread, thus helping to increase the number of students hypothetically effected by such illness!
John Scerri
Oct 11th 2011, 10:48
University students need to learn how to find methods to cope with stress that can lead to mental health problems.
Especially when the first year's aim is dedicated to trying to make students lives more difficult so as to eliminate those who are not up to continuing their course.
This is my impression after having communicated with frist year students ...THEY TELL YOU THE FIRST YEAR IS TORTURE .
M Sciberras
Oct 11th 2011, 10:44
I think there are many who will read this article and feel physically sick. So in Malta half of all Uni students suffer from depression. Do these include the dozens studing subjects like Theatre Studies or European Studies or some other worthless degree which on the job market, may just about get them a job in a call centre here in Malta? Financed, let us not forget by the taxpayer. For like all the aspiring doctors and engineers, these pay not a dime to go to University, get paid a stipend and live with Mummy and Daddy. A disproportionate number of students in these worthless and expensive courses are girls from rich maltese families unfortunately - the tal pepe brigade is well represented - many of whom will never have a productive job in their lives, relying instead on the poor fool who marries them. Their parents can well afford to pay for their education and therefore humour their pretensions of having a tertiary education, even if they do not have half a brain to share amongst themselves. The way we pamper ourselves on this island, its a wonder the deficit is what it is......
Aldo Chircop
Oct 11th 2011, 14:39
Very true.
Now that the age up to which child maintenance must be provided has been increased to 23 by law "to make sure everyone is supported throughout their tertiary education, even if their parents are divorced" (or rather so that one can squeeze their ex-spouses wallet for a few years more), be sure that we will see an even bigger proliferation of these kids going to uni, and an ever increasing range of worthless courses to accommodate them.
stephanie esposito
Oct 11th 2011, 10:08
This year as part of my BA dregree, I conducted a study regarding the prevalance of Bulimia Nervosa among university students (1173) between the age of 18 and 41. Two standardised tools were used for this study and these were The Bulimic Investigatory Test. Edinburg and the other one was The Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, and the outcome was that 8.56 % of the male population and 11.57 % of the female population suffer from Bulimia Nervosa, 17.84% of these students have low-self esteem. The study only investigated Bulimia Nervosa and I am sure that Anorexia Nervosa would be highly prevalent among university students as well should it be investigated. Eating Disorders especially Bulimia is difficult to deduct and the person suffering finds it hard to search for help, especially males who think that Bulimia Nervosa is a female disorder and feels shame to serch for help.
Mr Joseph Aquilina
Oct 11th 2011, 10:39
and did you do the same test on non-University students? to compare I mean?
Mr R ferriggi
Oct 11th 2011, 10:02
QUOTE
One had to keep in mind that first-year students were facing the daunting new and stressful world of university, added Dr Cassar, who is the head of the Department of Psychiatry at the university.
UNQUOTE
ARE WE SURE ??
CAN A SIMILAR STUDY BE ALSO CONDUCTED ON THE COMMON WORKERS OF THESE ISLANDS??
THE PROBLEMS THAT ONE MAY FACE?? THE ANXIETIES DUE TO LACK OF WORK, ANXIETY FROM PRESSURE FROM MANAGEMENTS, THREATENING BEHAVIOUR FROM BOSSES, LOW PAY, ETC??
ANXIETY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY LOANS, TO NOT FEED THE FAMILY, TO LOSE WHAT ONE HAS EARNED AND SAVED FOR??
OR ARE THESE ANXIETIES ''IRRELEVANT'' COMPARED TO THE ANXIETIES SUFFERED BY FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ON STIPENDS, PARENTS PAYROLL , CARS, MOBILES AND THE REST ?!?!
Paul Cauchi
Oct 11th 2011, 11:16
Being a worker and a former university student I can say from experience that you don't have a clue about what you're saying. I wonder how many times you feel the need and deliberately decide to work overtime all night to meet deadlines.
And regarding lack of jobs, whoever is really willing to find a job does find one sooner rather than later, even if that means learning new languages and/or skills. There are quite a few professions which actually lack workers (including surgeons, nurses, certain IT fields, administrators and translators to name a few).
I can assure you that student life can be so stressful that in comparison, under normal circumstances, working life is so relaxing it gets boring.
And regarding not being able to pay loans and/or feed the family, well... exceptions exist, but studies show that these problems usually arise from overspending, gambling, drug use and/or excessive alcohol consumption. Some basic money management skills and cost cutting usually solve the problems.
Mr R ferriggi
Oct 11th 2011, 12:12
I ALSO speak after completing tertiary studies and after that,,,,,, more than 20 years experience, all in the CUT-THROAT private sector.
when you mention ''relaxing and boring',,,,, you seem to be referring to cetain sectors, such as governmental workers. or public sector.
been there, done that, and left because i am not that type, i couldnt stand it.
in some ways i regret it because people who stayed put have had it better ( stress and anxiety-wise).
and after all,,, the worst of studies are mostly for 3-5 years, and not a life time.
i am not, in any way,,,, saying they have it easy. but there are different classes of stresses and anxiety.
j brincat
Oct 11th 2011, 09:11
What's wrong with the PM, his ministers and parliamentary secretaries working overtime considering the weekly €500 rise they gave themselves against the people's meagre €1.16!
(jb)