Mental Health Condition and Its Indicative Factors among University Students in Rajshahi City

This study explores mental health issues among university students in Rajshahi. For this purpose, a convenience sampling technique was applied, and a total of 375 responses were collected through an online survey in mid-December 2024. The collected data are sorted and coded in Excel. Then, simple descriptive statistics, such as frequency and percentage, are performed, along with econometric analysis using Gretl software, to determine the significant factors of different mental health indicators. The study firstly finds that there is diversity in the demographic features of the respondent students. The participants are mostly young and female, but rural-based inhabitants. Secondly, the percentage distribution indicates that university students in Rajshahi city experience poor mental health, as most of them have at least one symptom of degrading mental health condition. Finally, it finds that academic years and smoking habits are negatively associated with students' concentration ability. In contrast, personal income source and, interestingly, smoking habit are positively associated with the students' feeling under strain. Moreover, female students have a higher chance of being unhappy and depressed. As students get older and have no personal income source, they are more unhappy and depressed. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to launch mental health programs and highlight the distinct needs of female students and those enrolled in universities. Moreover, awareness campaigns within university settings can be crucial in reducing mental health issues.