MENTAL ILLNESS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Modern social life and immediacy do not provide an opportunity for reflection to think about the greatness of being able to survive so many obligations, commitments, duties and tasks to perform. This study deals with the mental illness of Maria students and consists of an analysis of the difficulties faced by students to complete a higher education course, associated with the intense increase in the mental suffering of these students. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reasons that lead to mental illness in university students. METHODOLOGY: The research dealt with an integrative review of the literature, based on the following guiding question: what reasons led to mental illness in university students? Data collection took place between July and August 2024, using the Virtual Health Library (VHL) database, including the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs) and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) databases. The following descriptors were used in health sciences (DeCS): students, mental illness and university students, combined with the Boolean operator AND. The inclusion criteria adopted were articles published between 2019 and 2024, available in Portuguese for free, that addressed the topic and were available in full. Duplicate articles, in Spanish, English, monographs, incomplete articles, dissertations and those that did not align with the project proposal were excluded. The data were presented through charts and tables and compared according to the literature. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: university is a significant factor in student illness, with 23.8% reporting mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, before enrolling. University students with a clinical diagnosis face difficulties in social skills, resulting in negative feelings. Anxiety, driven by stressors, compromises academic performance, and the pressure of the university environment can lead to course dropout. The use of substances such as psychostimulants and cannabis is common, with users presenting a higher incidence of social problems and mental disorders, in addition to the risk of developing psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The mental health of university students is a concern, with high rates of anxiety and depression, exacerbated by academic pressure and the use of substances such as stimulants and cannabis. Psychological support and the development of social skills are essential to improve this scenario.