Title: Consequences of Poor Mental Health - Campus Health and Safety
Headings: Consequences of Poor Mental Health
Consequences of Poor Mental Health
Content: Some authors have suggested that attrition is more often caused by emotional rather than academic factors, which suggests that students who are emotionally healthy may be more capable of meeting the demands of college. Campus and Societal Impacts
The academic consequences of poor mental health go well beyond the individual student. Institutions of higher education can experience the impact of undetected or untreated mental health problems in terms of lost tuition, fees, or alumni donations. In more serious cases, such as when a student attempts or commits suicide, colleges and universities may face lawsuits and encounter negative publicity for years to come. The impact of poor mental health among college students can also have devastating consequences on future employers and society-at-large. Even if students with mental health problems are able to reach graduation, studies have shown that early work experiences can be stifled by having poor mental health and valuable work-related skills and proficiencies can be lost as a result. As future workers and leaders, students may be less productive and take more absences from work upon entering the workforce. Thus, the potential economic and societal burden of mental health problems can be enormous.