Bridging the Gap and Integrating Youth Mental Health Support in Colleges: Insights from Policy to Practice within a Public Health Framework – A Systematic Narrative Review

This narrative review systematically examines the integration of youth mental health support in colleges, focusing on policies, programs, and strategic initiatives. A systematic search across seven databases, PubMed, Scopus, SAGE, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, identified studies from 2009 to 2024. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist, 57 studies were included and analyzed thematically. Key themes emerged as mental health in colleges, population-based approaches, public health frameworks, social and peer influences, curricular integration, supportive contexts, and staff training, policy frameworks, and youth health services programs. The study faced some limitations from multiple databases due to the inaccessibility of paid articles and minimal potential bias from involving only two reviewers may have impacted the review's thoroughness. The review highlights critical gaps in Indian colleges, such as inadequate policies, evaluations, coordination, and educational initiatives, exacerbated by inconsistent funding compared to global efforts. It calls for effective advocacy, regulatory support, institutional incentives, and the development of research-backed tools. The study advocates for integrating youth mental health into public health frameworks and reforming college health services with inclusive, prevention-focused interventions. It provides valuable insights for stakeholders, focusing on identifying vulnerable students and developing targeted interventions to address mental health challenges in India.