Student Mental Health An Epidemiological Study in Taiwan

This paper reports some important findings of a 4-year epidemiological study in an university. All the freshmen were studied from the time of entrance to the university up to graduation by means of questionaires and individual interviews. Nearly one-third of the freshmen were found to be retable as ''psychiatric cases.' Some differences in prevalence of symptoms among various domicile groups and sexes, and in comparison with the general population. were found. Although the prevalence rates of mental disorders did not. as a whole, change during the later years of college. some changes in symptom-mainifestation were observed. They are discussed in light of influences uf college experiences on student mental health. Those social, cultural and life experience factors which were found to be related to freshmen mental health and attitudes toward professional help are presented. Academic achievement was correlated with mental health. The value of the Maudsley Personality Inventory and Mental Health Questionnaires in psychiatric case-finding in freshmen year and in predicting mental condition in later years, and their correlation with academic achievement are discussed. Some area for future study are suggested.