Justice Scripts

Walk across any university campus in Ghana, and the scene is familiar. Students hurry to lectures, walk alone with earbuds in, or slump on benches with weary expressions. At first glance, it may seem like normal academic stress, but a closer look reveals deeper, often invisible struggles with mental health battles many students keep private.

Over time, it becomes clear how pervasive these issues are. Friends, classmates, and acquaintances quietly wrestle with challenges that go far beyond exams and assignments. Conversations, casual observations, and late-night study sessions reveal the toll that mental health difficulties are taking on Ghanaian students.

Anxiety: The Pressure Never Ends

Many students live under constant anxiety. The fear of failing courses, letting down families, or losing scholarships keeps them in a state of heightened stress. Some panic during exam periods, while others struggle with racing thoughts at any academic checkpoint. The competitive atmosphere on campus where grades are equated with future opportunities intensifies the pressure.

As one student described it: “It feels like I’m running a race that never stops, and I don’t know what happens if I slow down.” Anxiety like this affects concentration, memory, and overall academic performance.

Depression: The Silent Struggle

Depression is another widespread but often hidden challenge. It may manifest in students withdrawing socially, missing lectures, or appearing constantly exhausted. Many continue to push themselves to keep up because showing vulnerability is often stigmatized on campus.

Social media adds another layer of difficulty. Students compare themselves to peers who appear to be thriving, which worsens feelings of inadequacy and isolation. Without proper support, depression not only affects academic work but also overall well-being.

Burnout: The Cost of Overload

Burnout affects countless students juggling lectures, assignments, part-time jobs, family responsibilities, and social commitments. Constant overwork leaves them emotionally and physically drained.

I once saw a classmate fall asleep while standing during a presentation a clear sign of exhaustion rather than laziness. Burnout can lead to declining grades, absenteeism, and loss of interest in learning.

Why Universities Must Act

These mental health struggles are not individual shortcomings they reflect a systemic issue that universities must address. Academic success is difficult when students are mentally overwhelmed. Stress, depression, and burnout directly reduce learning, memory retention, and classroom engagement.

Left unaddressed, mental health challenges can increase dropout rates, lower performance, and even cause long-term emotional harm. Alarming incidents of self-harm and suicide on campuses highlight the urgency of this issue.

Universities must implement practical measures. Accessible counseling services staffed with trained professionals should be standard, not optional. Mental health awareness should be part of orientation programs, classroom discussions, and hall meetings. Lecturers should be trained to recognize signs of distress, and campuses must foster stigma-free environments where students feel safe seeking help.

University life will always come with challenges, but no student should have to fight these battles alone. Ghana’s campuses are home to talented young people quietly struggling with mental health issues. Listening, supporting, and building strong institutional mental health systems is no longer optional it is essential.