Introduction: Prior research shows high levels of mental disorder among students in many countries, with potential for internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) to improve mental health. Over 40% of young people in Europe pursue studies in higher education. We report mental disorder diagnostic prevalences for students in Sweden, and preliminary results from a transdiagnostic ICBT trial.

Methods: Students at 15 higher education institutions in Sweden answered an online cross-sectional survey between 2020 and 2023 as part of the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. A sample of 17 948 students provided sufficient data for calculation of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) diagnoses for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder (PD), Bipolar Disorder (BD, any), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and any mental disorder for 30-day, 12-month and lifetime periods. About 1200 participants will have been randomized by summer 2025 to guided ICBT, unguided ICBT, or waitlist control crossed over at six months to unguided ICBT.

Results: The proportion of respondents (69.4% women, 25.5 mean age, range 18 to 36) fulfilling criteria for any 30-day, 12-month or lifetime diagnosis was 25.2%, 39.3% and 44.5%, respectively. Odds of mental disorders were higher for several sub-groups based on gender, age, sexual orientation and post-pandemic survey responses. Preliminary post-treatment ICBT trial outcomes for depression and anxiety will be presented.

Conclusions: The prevalence findings augment existing concern over student mental health. ICBT may offer a way forward for augmenting student mental health treatment resources.