P-17 Anxiety, Depression and Help-Seeking among Young Adult Students at the University of Guyana
Author(s):
S Goberdhan, O Perreira
Year of Presentation:
2025
Objective: The transition from adolescence to adulthood is
a period marked by psychosocial change, and oftentimes,
support for this group is limited or absent. Our study examines the levels of anxiety and depression among young adult
students at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus,
and explores their mental health help-seeking attitudes. This
paper reports preliminary findings from a mental health
survey, one component of a broader mixed-methods study.
Methods: We conducted an anonymous, online survey to collect data on demographics, help-seeking attitudes and symptoms of anxiety and depression using previously validated instruments: ATPPHS – Short Form, GAD – 7 and PHQ – 9. The survey was shared via email, with 178 responses obtained during the first wave of circulation. Frequency analyses were conducted to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression and levels of help-seeking attitudes, and regression analyses examined associations between anxiety and depression and socio-demographic characteristics.
Results: Most of the surveyed students were female (77.27%), single (77.27%), unemployed (52.84%) and in their first 2 years of study (58.51%). Prevalence of anxiety and depression were found to be 61.36% and 42%, respectively. 39.77% of students had positive attitudes toward seeking professional help and 31.25% reported accessing mental health services in the past. No significant associations were found between anxiety and depression and the sociodemographic characteristics.
Conclusion: Based on our preliminary findings, high levels of anxiety and depression exist among University of Guyana students, highlighting the need for culturally appropriate programmes that promote good mental health and positive coping strategies specifically tailored for young adults. Our completed dataset is expected to provide further insight into the mental health needs of this population and opportunities for improving mental health awareness and access to support services.