Assessment of Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the students: A comparative study between disability and non-disability students at higher education level

Psychological distress (in the form of depression, anxiety, and stress) among disabled and non-disabled students at higher education level is prevalent and increasing. In most cases, higher education students with mental health issues are not seeking treatment. Main objective of the study, to find out the rate of prevalence in depression among the disabled and non-disabled students at higher education level in West Bengal. And the hypothesis is There is no significant difference between disability and non- disability in depression, Anxiety and stress among the student at higher education level. The present study is a cross sectional survey among the students at higher education level using The Depression, Anxiety and stress Scale (DASS-21) obtaining necessary permission from the heads of respective colleges and Universities. 150 samples (Disabled and non-disabled) were collected and the purposive sampling technique was used in this study. students with disabilities experience a greater degree of depression than non-disability students; and the difference was found statistically significant. On the other hand, it was also found that the disability students were suffering from high levels of anxiety and here too, difference the rate of prevalence of anxiety was statistically significant. The disabled students are also needed to screen students for mental health problems and provide counseling as needed.