Prevalence of mental disorders among students and contemporary approaches to their prevention

This scientific review addresses the critical issue of high prevalence of mental disorders among university students, which negatively impacts their academic performance, quality of life, and future well-being. Consequently, the necessity of this research is driven by the growing need to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of the article is to present a comprehensive description of the prevalence of various mental disorders among students, explore associated risk factors, successful treatment methods and prevention approaches. The review aims to create an overall picture of the problem, identify knowledge gaps, and determine promising directions for further research. The research methodology includes analysis of data from scientific publications indexed in databases such as E-library, PubMed, Scopus, and MedLine, using keywords: “mental disorders,” “students,” “depression,” “anxiety,” “prevention,” “treatment.” As a result of analyzing 63 publications in Russian and English over the past 8 years, the most common disorders were identified. The review included epidemiological studies examining the prevalence of depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, substance abuse, suicidal behavior, Internet addiction, and other psychiatric disorders. The analysis covers data on prevalence, risk factors, and effectiveness of various treatment and prevention methods, including the application of psychotherapy and digital technologies. In particular, the potential of mobile applications, web-based interventions, and artificial intelligence tools is examined. Additionally, the analysis includes interdisciplinary approaches. In conclusion, the high prevalence of mental disorders among students presents a serious problem requiring a holistic approach. Digital technologies and interdisciplinary approaches demonstrate certain potential but require further development and optimization to enhance the effectiveness of prevention, early detection, and treatment.