Journal of
eISSN: 2373-6445
Submit manuscript...
Opinion Volume 17 Issue 4
Ignoring anxiety and depression among psychology students: a costly failure in higher education
Vinícius Dias Rodrigues
Received: July 02, 2026 | Published: August 25, 2026
Citation: Rodrigues VD. Ignoring anxiety and depression among psychology students: a costly failure in higher education. J Psychol Clin Psychiatry. 2026;17(4):164-165. DOI: 10.15406/jpcpy.2026.17.00872
Abstract
Psychology students, paradoxically, constitute one of the university populations most vulnerable to anxiety and depression. This opinion article argues that neglecting the mental health of these future professionals represents a preventable failure by higher education institutions. Although evidence consistently demonstrates elevated psychological distress among psychology undergraduates, universities predominantly adopt reactive approaches, intervening only after harm has occurred. We argue that preventive strategies – including routine mental health screening, curricular redesign, and faculty training – should be viewed as essential components of educational quality. The article concludes that higher education institutions cannot continue preparing mental health professionals while systematically neglecting the mental health of those they educate.
Keywords: psychology students, anxiety, depression, mental health, higher education, prevention
©2026 Rodrigues. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.