"Gutting It Out" Does Not Work: Why Mental Health Days are Needed
December Maxwell1, Regina T Praetorius2
1Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
Social Work in Public Health
|March 1, 2024
Summary
College students face mental health challenges impacting academics. This study explored student perspectives on mental health time off, finding a need for clear university policies to reduce stress and stigma.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Higher Education Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Mental health issues significantly affect college students' academic performance.
- Over 50% of U.S. college students report mental health concerns, rising to 60% by their second year.
- Students often hesitate to seek treatment for mental health issues despite awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate college students' perspectives on time off for mental health.
- To understand the perceived usefulness and implementation of mental health time-off policies.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing Reddit data.
- Thematic analysis of 392 extracted quotes to identify key themes.
Main Results:
- Identified four main themes regarding student perspectives on mental health time off.
- Student responses highlight a need for clearer policies and support systems.
Conclusions:
- Recommends the implementation of school-level mental health time-off policies.
- Suggests integrating instructor policies into syllabi for enhanced transparency.
- Aims to alleviate student stress and reduce mental health stigma in academic settings.
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