ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF FINAL YEAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT A UNIVERSITY
*Corresponding Author:Received Date: Feb 22, 2024 / Published Date: Apr 23, 2025
Citation: Petulla P, Monique L (2025) Assessing the Relationship between Mental Health and Academic Performance of Final Year Undergraduate Students at a University. Occup Med Health 13: 569.
Copyright: © 2025 Petulla P, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Abstract
Mental health is a major issue that can have a negative impact on students and their academic performance; notably, 31.4% of students report symptoms of mental health issues in the past year. However, a knowledge gap exists around mental health issues and academic performance in the Caribbean and even more so in Jamaica. The study's objective was to note the impact of mental health issues on academic performance, how a college/university engages students who suffer from these issues and the administration's perception of its effectiveness. The researcher utilised the single case holistic case study and the qualitative methods of focus group discussion, interviews and document analysis. The study found that the demanding requirements of the final year, the culture shock of the classroom environment, challenges associated with the transition to online learning and the looming transitions after university impacted students' mental health and academic performance. Universities must develop effective strategies to address and mitigate these impacts, especially during the final year. Four major strategies found include seminars, guidance counsellor support, advocacy from student leadership and social gatherings. The study found mixed perceptions of the effectiveness of the strategies employed. This indicates the need for further evaluation and assessment to determine the actual impact of these strategies on students' well-being and academic performance. The findings of the study, however, have important implications for campus mental health strategies and initiatives.
