Student mental health is now a serious concern on many campuses, including Gadjah Mada University. Data and observations show an increase in mental health problems among students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst various academic responsibilities and other activities such as organizations, part-time jobs, and friendship dynamics, there is a risk of problems such as health issues and psychological problems arising. However, students’ willingness to access mental health services still faces many obstacles.
Based on this condition, a research team from the Faculty of Psychology at UGM, with the support of the 2025 Faculty of Psychology Research Grant, initiated a study to hear directly from students: how they perceive mental health, what challenges they face, and what kind of support they expect. The hope is that this step can provide a strong foundation for building a mentally healthy ecosystem and providing assistance that is appropriate and easily accessible to students. This study aims to explore students’ understanding of mental health, the triggers they experience during college, their habits in taking care of themselves, and their knowledge and experience in accessing mental health services on campus. The team also explored students’ expectations regarding the ideal form of service. This information is expected to form the basis for developing services that are not only available but also used and felt to be beneficial.
The approach used is qualitative. The team will interview 30 students from various faculties and levels at UGM, both offline and online, according to the participants’ convenience. The entire process was conducted with the consent of the participants and ethical approval from the Faculty of Psychology at UGM. The results of the conversations will be processed to identify the main themes, so as to provide a complete picture of the real needs in the field.
The research team is led by Riangga Novrianto, M.Psi., Psikolog, with the support of lecturers Aisha Sekar Lazuardini Rachmanie, M.Psi., Psikolog and Restu Tri Handoyo, M.Psi., Ph.D., Psikolog, as well as psychology alumni Yesica Grahita Rumanti Mahambara S.Psi., M.Psi., Psikolog. In addition, the team was also supported by student assistants Atim Ratnawati, S.Psi., Tita Alifia Handini Putri, and Rafa Anindita Fakhira from the Faculty of Psychology at UGM as data collectors. This cross-role collaboration was important to ensure that the study design and implementation remained methodologically sound, while also being sensitive to the daily experiences of students. Student researchers played a role in participant recruitment, the interview process, and data processing, while lecturers ensured the quality of the design, supervised the implementation, and formulated recommendations based on the findings.
The targeted outputs included scientific papers for publication in accredited national journals and news publications on the faculty website. More importantly, the team wants to present practical recommendations that can be directly translated into improvement measures. The expected impact is not limited to case handling, but also prevention. With strong data, the campus is expected to be able to design programs that target the root causes of problems. Through this research, the Faculty of Psychology at UGM, together with the Psychology Consultation Unit (UKP), can provide recommendations for concrete steps that will have an impact, so that every student has a fair opportunity to study, make friends, and work in a healthier state of mind, emotions, and hopes.
This research is also in line with sustainable development goals in the field of health and welfare. The campus, as a place of learning and growth, should ideally be a place where psychological support is available and felt, not just listed in documents. By listening directly to students’ voices, the research team hopes to bridge the gap between needs and services, between policy and practice. Ultimately, targeted and needs-based services will help students grow, complete their studies well, and maintain a balance between academic achievement and personal well-being.
Writer: Raden Roro Anisa Anggi Dinda