Mental Health Condition of Adolescents to Early Adulthood: A Study of Indonesian College Students

Abstract

Purpose: To detect the mental health conditions of students and identify factors influencing their reluctance to seek psychological help in order to prevent progression of more serious mental health issues. Methods: This study had a quantitative descriptive survey design. Participants were adolescent active undergraduate students aged 18-24 years. Data were collected through an online questionnaire comprising Indonesian versions of the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38) and Health Seeking Behavior assessments. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 25 to evaluate respondent characteristics and mental health conditions. Results: We found that psychological wellbeing declined with age, with older people being more susceptible to depression and emotional loss than younger people. Men had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and emotional loss than women. Migrant individuals had lower wellbeing than non-migrants. Close friends were the most common source for seeking mental health support, reflecting a preference for informal help rather than professional help. Conclusion: Transition from adolescence to adulthood is associated with heightened mental health vulnerabilities, especially among first-year male students. Thus, innovative mental health education and peer counseling are needed to better support their psychological well-being.