Mental health evaluation of poor college students: Evidences from China

Abstract

Poor college students often face a high psychological pressure, in addition to financial difficulties. However, many independent colleges in China have not done enough to tackle the "psychological poverty" of their students. In this paper, a mental health survey is conducted on poor college students in independent colleges of northern China's Hebei Province. The mental health of each student was assessed against the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). On this basis, three countermeasures were put forward: the poor students of independent colleges should be identified accurately based on mental health conditions; these students should be supported both financially and psychologically; a sensitive feedback mechanism should be constructed to provide accurate feedbacks on the financial and psychological supports. The research provides a valuable reference for accurate poverty alleviation in independent colleges.