Student mental health has become a major public health issue in many countries worldwide. It has been found that 75% of diagnosed psychiatric disorders occur before the age of 24 [1]. Students show a higher prevalence of psychological disorders than non-student young people of the same age [2] and are twice as likely to report psychological distress as the general population [3][4].

Indeed, the university period corresponds to a transitional phase marked by significant emotional, social, and academic changes, which can make students particularly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. In the Senegalese context, this issue is even more concerning, given that mental health services in university settings remain limited and stigmatization can be a barrier to early consultation.

Given these challenges, it is necessary to better understand the characteristics of students hospitalized in psychiatry to guide appropriate prevention strategies. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and sociodemographic profile of students hospitalized at the Moussa Diop Clinic of CHNU Fann over a six-year period (2019-2024).

This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Moussa Diop Psychiatric Clinic of the CHNU Fann. It included all students who were hospitalized between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2024. All student records registered during this period were identified from the hospitalization records. Of the 346 identified students, only 93 complete records were retained for the analysis. The remaining 253 records were excluded due to missing key sociodemographic information, including incomplete documentation of age, field of study, nationality.

The extracted sociodemographic data included age, sex, nationality, university field of study, level of study, area of residence, marital status, number of children, and living arrangements during the study. Information was organized as absolute and relative frequencies for qualitative variables and as means, standard deviations, and ranges for quantitative variables.

Data were collected using a survey form on the KoboCollect application and analyzed using R software version 4.4.1.

Prevalence

The prevalence of students hospitalized for psychiatric disorders at CHNU Fann during the study period was 10.39%. Compared to other studies conducted in Senegal, our result is close to that found by Seck [5] in Louga (9.05%) but remains higher than that reported by Fall et al. [6] in Dakar (6.7%). However, this prevalence remains higher than international estimates, indicating that approximately 3% to 5% of students in psychological distress are hospitalized, with the majority receiving outpatient care [7]. This high rate could be explained by the severity of the clinical presentations observed and the delay in seeking care, often prolonged due to significant barriers to care. When students delay seeking help, their conditions often deteriorate to the point where outpatient management becomes insufficient, necessitating hospitalization for acute psychiatric crises. This delay is frequently related to stigmatization and lack of access to university mental health services.

Sociodemographic Aspects

Most hospitalized students belonged to the 20 - 24 age group, confirming that the university period represents a particularly vulnerable window. The mean age of 24.41 years was slightly higher than that reported in several international studies. For example, Silveira in Portugal [8] found a mean age of 23 years among students followed as outpatients, while Braider et al. [9] in the United States reported that more than half of hospitalized students were between 17 and 21 years of age. Similarly, Yoon et al. [10] observed a mean age of 21.21 years among hospitalized and outpatient students. This difference could be attributed, in our context, to a delay in seeking help, often linked to stigmatization, lack of information, and the absence of university early detection structures.

Regarding sex, our study revealed a male predominance (63.44%), contrary to data from studies conducted in the United States and Portugal, where women were more frequently hospitalized or followed. Braider et al. [9], Morpeth-Provost [11], and Yoon et al. [10] reported that the majority of patients were female (56%-60%). This male predominance could also be explained by the demographic composition of the Senegalese universities. According to data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demographics (ANSD), higher education cycles show a slightly higher proportion of men than women, with 5% versus 3.6%, respectively [12].

The distribution of students by field of study reveals a significant presence of students enrolled in health sciences and mathematical/computer sciences, each representing 15.05% of hospitalizations. This overrepresentation of the biomedical and scientific fields is consistent with international data. Silveira et al. [8] observed that medical students were widely represented among psychiatry cases. In several African studies, health students also show high rates of depression, anxiety, or stress-related disorders, as in Benin (55.9% depression) [13] or Burkina Faso (50.7% mental disorders) [14]. These results suggest that academic pressure, workload, and performance demand specific to these fields are significant risk factors.

The study also highlights a significant proportion of foreign students (30.11%), the majority of whom are from Central and West Africa. Their care presents specificities, particularly related to isolation, distance from family, and financial constraints on care. In some cases, students were brought in by their roommates before families could be contacted, reflecting increased vulnerability to stress and disruption of usual social support. This finding is consistent with the literature, which shows that foreign students have a higher level of perceived stress than national students [15].

The majority of hospitalized students lived with their families of origin, a result comparable to that of Silveira in Portugal (62.7%) [8]. This family cohabitation can facilitate referral to care in case of decompensation, but it can also be influenced by intrafamilial tensions or relational difficulties, which are likely to worsen psychological distress. Conversely, American studies, such as that of Rosecan [16], indicate that students living far from their families are at a higher risk of being hospitalized due to a lack of a nearby support network.

Finally, the distribution by level of study shows a strong concentration of hospitalizations in the first year of undergraduate study (36.56%). This trend has been confirmed by several international studies. Braider [9], Morpeth-Provost [11], Mitchell et al. [17], and Silveira et al. [8] reported that most students were hospitalized or followed in psychiatry at the beginning of their studies, with proportions reaching up to 89.4%. The first year of university is a pivotal period marked by major academic, social, and emotional adaptation challenges.

Study Limitations

This study has several limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings. First, as a single-center study conducted at CHNU Fann, the results may not be generalizable to all university students in Senegal or other settings in West Africa. Second, the exclusion of 253 records (73.1%) due to incomplete data raises the possibility of selection bias, as students with missing information may differ systematically from those included in the analysis. Third, the retrospective nature of the study limited our ability to collect certain potentially relevant variables and to verify the accuracy of recorded information. Despite these limitations, this study provides valuable insights into the sociodemographic characteristics of hospitalized students and highlights important areas for future research and intervention.

This study highlights the notable prevalence of psychiatric hospitalizations among students at CHNU Fann. The patients of concern were mainly young male adults enrolled at the beginning of their university studies and residing predominantly in Dakar. These results underscore the importance of strengthening prevention, early detection, and care in university settings, particularly among students exposed to high academic pressure or social isolation. Based on these findings, we recommend: (1) implementing targeted mental health screening programs for first-year students, particularly in high-pressure fields such as health sciences and mathematical/computer sciences; (2) establishing specialized support services for international students who face unique challenges related to isolation and distance from family; (3) developing peer support networks and early intervention programs within university settings; and (4) conducting awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking behavior among students. These interventions could help reduce the severity of psychiatric conditions at presentation and potentially decrease the need for hospitalization.