High Prevalences of Current Mental Disorder Diagnoses Among University Students in Sweden: A Cross‐Sectional Study With Implications for Student Mental Health Services

OBJECTIVES: To establish diagnostic prevalences for common mental disorders among students at higher education institutions (HEI's) in Sweden. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study assessing diagnostic prevalences for 17,948 students at 30-day, 12-month and lifetime timepoints, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-5). Sample participants at 15 HEI's answered an online survey 2020-2023 within the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. Diagnoses are reported for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder (PD), Bipolar Disorder (BD, any), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios in relation to diagnoses of any mental disorder. RESULTS: Respondents (69.4% women, 25.5 mean age, range 18 to ≥ 36) reported 25.2%, 39.3% and 44.5% prevalences for any mental disorder at 30-day, 12-month and lifetime periods. Odds for any mental disorder were markedly higher for non-binary students and those with non-heterosexual orientation; odds were also higher for students aged 20-29 years, women, heterosexual individuals with same-sex attraction and post-pandemic respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The findings augment existing concern over student mental health. Student mental health services should expand menus for low-threshold treatment interventions, to promote flourishing and resilience.