Mental illness is a global public health issue. Evidence indicates that an onset for DSM-IV classified disorders will occur in about half of Americans at some point in their lives An electronic research of all literature articles published from 2006 to 2011 was conducted via ERIC, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Business Source Premier, and Master FILE Premier to identify the prevalence and the overall contributing factors to stress, anxiety, and depression among university students. In conclusion, the combined results from various studies strongly suggest that university students experience stress, anxiety, and depression due to multiple contributing factors. These factors must be considered when constructing a school- or community-based program that will provide services for the mental health and wellness of this vulnerable aggregate.

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A. J. P. Mendez, “Factors influencing stress and mental health: A comprehensive review of the literature,” International Journal of Health and Medical Sciences, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 42-47, 2015.