Mental health: almost half of Johannesburg students in new study screened positive for probable depression

• Possible causes include a combination of biological, psychological and social sources of distress.
• University students are particularly at high risk of depression.
• One South African study estimated that 24.2% of university students have mild depression, and 12.4% have moderate to severe depression.
• Globally, an average of about 21% of university students have major depressive disorder.

• Up-to-date research on the prevalence and drivers of depression among students is crucial to inform potential interventions in this group.
• Almost half of the study participants screened positive for probable depression.
• The prevalence of probable depression among undergraduate students in this study was high relative to the general population.

Our study

• Certain socio-demographic factors were associated with lower odds of screening positive for probable depression.
• These findings are similar to a recent study among undergraduate physiotherapy clinical students.
• Those reporting using cannabis were 29% more likely than students who didn’t use cannabis to screen positive for probable depression.
• Reported alcohol use was common in our study.
• Our study did not find an association between tobacco use and screening positive for probable depression.

Recommendations

• The odds of screening positive for depression were associated with specific sociodemographic and selected behavioural factors.
• Mental health professionals working with undergraduate students at the University of Witwatersrand should strengthen mental health (including depression) and risk factors (substance use) screening and referral for treatment services.