Mind the Gap: Differential Mental Health Demands in a Brazilian University Campus
C. R. Montalvão, M. Porcu, R. M. Sorgi, M. L. G. Burin, G. C. S. TakizawaIntroduction
The mental health of university students has become a growing concern in various academic contexts. Studies indicate high prevalences of anxiety and depressive symptoms among students, with significant repercussions on academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and student retention.
Objectives
Describe the profile of demand for psychiatric services on the campus of a Brazilian public institution. Highlighting the distribution by academic centers and discussing possible factors associated with the high prevalence of mental disorders reported in specific courses/fields.
Methods
We analyzed the responses from 176students who received assistance from the university’s psychiatry service during the period from june to august 2025. Data were collected using an institutional form, which included information about the academic center of origin. Responses were systematized and presented in descriptive charts.
Results
The analysis revealed that the largest number of students seeking care belonged to the Center for Human Sciences, Literature, and Arts (37.5%), followed by the Center for Applied Social Sciences (14.2%), Center for Health Sciences (11.9%), Center for Biological Sciences (11.4%), Center for Exact Sciences (9.1%), and Center for Technology (9.1%). The Center for Agrarian Sciences registered the lowest number of attendees.The predominance of students from Humanities, Literature, and Arts, as well as Applied Social Sciences, may be related to multifactorial aspects. These include a greater predisposition to recognize and seek psychological help, curricular characteristics involving a high theoretical load and tight deadlines, in addition to social and cultural contexts that may foster emotional vulnerability. In health courses, such as Medicine, Nursing, and Psychology, the high demand may reflect the impact of early and intense contact with human suffering, as well as the pressure for high academic performance and competitiveness. In the Exact Sciences and Technology areas, although witha lower percentage, a significant demand was also observed, possibly associated with academic stress, social isolation, and activity overload.
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