Gambling losses, tuition difficulties, academic pressure and relationship problems are among the challenges affecting university students’ mental well-being.
A Makerere University student warns that some of his colleagues are struggling to cope with the demands of campus life, with financial distress and unhealthy coping mechanisms compounding their difficulties.
Mordecai Elijah Eyobu says some students gamble money intended for tuition in the hope of winning enough to meet their financial obligations, only to find themselves in greater distress when they lose.
“Some of our colleagues cannot do without these things, and they have affected their way of life here at school, making them unable to execute their duties very well,” Eyobu says.
He says the pressure can become particularly difficult when examinations approach and students risk being denied access to examination rooms because of unpaid tuition.
“When you don’t have tuition and the exams are getting closer, and they are chasing you out of the exam room, the next thing you would think of is how can I get out of this situation?” he says.
For students facing such circumstances, the fear of missing examinations or falling behind academically can compound existing financial worries, leaving them struggling to find a way out of their predicament.
Eyobu also identifies substance use, social media habits, disagreements between students and lecturers, conflicts among students and romantic relationship problems as concerns that can interfere with academic responsibilities and personal well-being.
These challenges, he says, can affect how students conduct themselves on campus and their ability to fulfil their academic obligations.
His concerns reflect the wider pressures facing young people as mental health workers report growing demand for care and warn that stigma continues to prevent some people from seeking professional assistance.
Kasifah Birungi, chairperson of the Serenity Oasis Mental Health Club at Makerere University, says some students struggle to adjust to campus life because they are not adequately prepared for the independence and responsibilities that come with adulthood.
“When our parents assume that we are at campus, we are grown-ups, yet they have not prepared us for that independence, it becomes confusing for the students,” Birungi says.
She argues that parents should prepare their children for adulthood by teaching them practical skills, encouraging open communication and helping them develop the confidence to manage challenges.
University life requires young people to manage money, organise their studies, prepare meals and interact with people from different backgrounds. Students must also make decisions about their social lives, relationships and personal responsibilities, often with less direct supervision than they had at home.
Those who have had limited opportunities to develop these skills may find the transition difficult, particularly when they are also expected to perform well academically and meet financial obligations.
Birungi also raises concern about young people who carry unresolved childhood experiences into adulthood without safe spaces to discuss their problems with parents or other trusted people.
She says providing school fees, food and other material necessities is not enough. Children also need emotional support and guidance on how to cope with disappointment, conflict and responsibility.
According to Birungi, preparing children for independence should include equipping them with the emotional resilience and practical skills they need to navigate challenges rather than assuming they will automatically learn these lessons when they leave home.
The concerns raised by the student advocates come against the backdrop of pressure on mental health services, with Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital reporting bed occupancy at 200 per cent of its designated capacity.
James Rodgers Nsereko, a principal clinical psychologist and head of Butabika Hospital’s Community and Recovery Department, says the hospital is facing an alarming situation as the number of patients exceeds its designated bed capacity.
“The situation is alarming these days. Currently, as I speak, the bed capacity of Butabika has come to 200 per cent,” Nsereko says.
The reported figure suggests that the hospital is accommodating twice its designated bed capacity. However, the exact number of beds, patients and period covered by the reported occupancy were not provided.
Nsereko identifies substance use as one of the concerns associated with mental health difficulties among patients.
He says some people began using marijuana and other substances during the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to cope with fear and anxiety, with continued use contributing to addiction in some cases.
Some patients subsequently develop psychosis and require hospital treatment, he says.
His account highlights the risks associated with using substances to manage psychological distress, although the circumstances and outcomes vary among individuals. Substance use does not affect everyone in the same way, and the relationship between substance use and mental illness can be complex.
Nsereko also points to inadequate funding as a challenge facing mental health services, raising questions about the resources available to facilities providing specialised care.
He warns that academic competition can also affect learners’ mental well-being, particularly when the pursuit of high grades comes at the expense of sleep and rest.
“If you don’t sleep, you are affecting the processes of the brain,” he says.
Sleep is important for concentration, memory and learning, making adequate rest an important part of students’ ability to manage academic demands. When learners sacrifice sleep to study for examinations or meet deadlines, they may find it harder to concentrate and cope with pressure.
Nsereko says he has contributed to guidelines developed by the Ministry of Education and Sports on the management of learners in schools, expressing hope that their implementation will improve students’ mental health.
He also identifies parental rejection, neglect and family break-ups as experiences that can affect children’s emotional well-being, particularly when their distress is dismissed rather than addressed.
Experiences within the family can influence how young people respond to conflict, disappointment and other challenges later in life. Nsereko’s concerns point to the importance of supportive relationships and environments in which children and young people can discuss their difficulties without fear of being dismissed or judged.
At Kisubi Hospital, the number of people seeking mental health care has risen from about 10 when the service started to more than 50 patients a month, according to Dorothy Kibone, a psychiatric nurse at the facility.
Kibone says stigma remains a major barrier, preventing some people from speaking openly about their struggles or seeking professional assistance.
“Our drive basically comes from the silent people who are dying in our city because of the stigma that they get from other people. They can’t speak up freely,” she says.
Stigma can discourage people from discussing emotional distress with family members, friends or health professionals. Some may fear being judged, misunderstood or treated differently if they disclose what they are experiencing, leaving them to cope without the support they need.
Kibone says the hospital provides mental health services to people experiencing conditions such as anxiety and depression, as well as children with developmental conditions, adolescents and older people requiring psychiatric assessment.
She encourages people experiencing persistent stress, burnout or other troubling symptoms to seek professional assessment instead of suffering in silence.
The hospital provides mental health services daily, with outpatient services operating from Monday to Friday. Patients can also receive inpatient care and follow-up reviews.
The increase in monthly attendance suggests growing demand for the facility’s services. However, the figures alone do not establish whether mental illness is becoming more prevalent.
Increased awareness, improved access to care and other factors could also influence the number of people seeking treatment.
For people who delay seeking help because of stigma, the consequences can extend beyond their emotional well-being, affecting relationships, education and their ability to carry out everyday responsibilities.
The experiences described by the student advocates and health workers point to the need for a broader response to mental health challenges, combining prevention, early assessment and accessible treatment.
For university students, gambling-related losses, substance use, academic stress and relationship difficulties can compound one another, making it harder to concentrate on studies and manage everyday responsibilities.
Financial problems, in particular, may create additional pressure when students fear missing examinations or failing to complete their courses.
For parents, preparing children for adulthood means providing not only material necessities but also emotional support and practical skills to help them cope with independence and setbacks.
Encouraging open conversations about personal difficulties may also help young people feel more comfortable seeking guidance when they encounter challenges.
At the institutional level, universities need to pay attention to students’ welfare alongside academic performance. This includes recognising the pressures students face and ensuring they know where to seek support when financial, social or emotional difficulties begin affecting their studies.
Health facilities, meanwhile, require adequate resources to care for people who need specialised treatment. The reported bed occupancy at Butabika and the increase in monthly attendance at Kisubi Hospital highlight the importance of ensuring that people experiencing mental health difficulties can access appropriate care.
Communities also have a role to play in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Instead of dismissing people’s experiences or treating mental health difficulties as a source of shame, families, friends and institutions can encourage those affected to seek professional assistance.
Awareness alone will not resolve these challenges. Families, educational institutions and health facilities must work together to identify distress early, support those affected and ensure that people who need professional treatment can access it.
For students struggling to balance academic demands, financial difficulties and personal relationships, recognising when they need help can be an important first step.
For those who remain silent because they fear judgement, the message from mental health workers is that seeking professional assistance is a step towards receiving the support they need.