DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2018.v06i05.009

Pages: 1065-1071

University students often claim to experience stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues, which have significant negative impact on their academic performance and mental health. Emotional disturbances are common phenomenon among university students. However, there are shortages of information indicating its status among students in Ethiopian universities. This paper aimed at portraying the nature and prevalence of clinical cases at the Haramaya University Counseling and Guidance Program (HUCGP), seen for 12 months. Mental health services were provided for students at Haramaya University (HU), from September 2016 up to August 2017. During the period, 115 clients visited HUCGP for different psychiatric problems. Cases of nonstudents like staff and staff families were excluded. Different types of clinical assessments were used to determine participants’ emotional and psychological problems. Diagnosis were made based on DSM-IV. Male clients were 57.4% and female clients 42.6%. Most of the clients (49.6%) were between the age range of 20-22; majority of the clients (39.1%) came from Oromia region, followed by 23.5% from Amhara region. Most of the clients (52.2%) were first year students; where most clients (41.7%) had their CGPA between 2.0 and 3.0, followed by freshman students (40.9%) who did not even complete a semester. Most of the clients (33.0%) were referred by HU Higher Health Center (HUHHC), followed by 27.0% self-referred clients seeking psychological supports. Significant number of clients came from HIoT (22.6%), followed by 16.5% from CoA and CHSS respectively. Most of the clients (30.4%) were primarily diagnosed with a clinically significant Depression, followed by Adjustment Disorder (13.9%), Academic and Relational problems (10.4%), and Dysthymic disorder (9.6%). Because of the functional similarity among Depression, which is 30.4%, Adjustment disorder, which is 13.9% and Dysthymic disorder, which is 9.6%, it is concluded that more than ha