Mental Health among Undergraduate University Students: A Background Paper for Administrators, Educators and Healthcare Providers

University students worldwide are at risk for mental health disorders because of the range of stressors they experience. The aim of this background paper is to convey salient evidence about this issue to university administrators, educators, and healthcare providers, and to offer a few illustrative examples of interventions they might consider to address it. It is hoped this paper will evoke outcomes such as increased awareness of this issue and creation of a supportive academic environment on the part of the three groups mentioned above. Content in this background paper includes some facts about prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of mental health issues among university students, as well as the reasons expressed by these students for not seeking help. It is expected that these data will provide insights for administrators, educators, and healthcare providers in academic institutions for both preventing mental illness and promoting mental health among their students by developing collaborative, multidimensional, and culturally sensitive preventive mental health programs, which in turn will facilitate the development of a more supportive academic context, and enhanced psychosocial well-being and productivity among the university student population.