THE MENTAL WELL-BEING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

The mental well-being of undergraduate students has become a growing concern globally due to the significant challenges they face during their transition to university life. This study investigates the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students at Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), focusing on different academic years. Using the established Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) instrument, data were collected from 1,312 students through convenience sampling. The results revealed that 12.4% of students experienced an extremely severe level of depression, 26.5% reported an extremely severe level of anxiety, and 4.7% were found to be in an extremely severe level of stress. Notably, second-year students exhibited higher levels of stress and depression compared to first-year students, suggesting that academic pressures may intensify as students’ progress. However, the results also showed that third-year students had lower levels of anxiety than first-year students, which could indicate better coping mechanisms or adaptation over time. These findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of students’ mental health and developing targeted strategies to address these challenges throughout students' academic journeys. By creating a supportive environment and implementing mental health initiatives, the higher education institution can contribute to improving the overall well-being of undergraduate students, ensuring they are better equipped to juggle the responsibilities of university life successfully.