Early Mental Health Detection with Machine Learning: A Practical Approach to Model Development and Implementation

Abstract

Academic pressures, lifestyle changes, and socio-economic factors significantly impact mental health, a critical determinant of academic success and well-being. Early detection and intervention are crucial to mitigate severe outcomes like academic underperformance and suicidal tendencies. Leveraging tools like the DASS-42, this study examines mental health patterns using Support Vector Machine (SVM) models, achieving accuracies of 88% for depression, 71% for stress, and 57% for anxiety. While the model excels in identifying "Normal" cases, its performance for "Mild," "Moderate," and "Severe" cases highlights limitations due to class imbalance and feature representation. The findings reveal that anxiety is the most volatile and severe condition, with peaks in 2018 and 2022, while stress remains manageable and depression moderately stable. Gender and program-specific differences emphasize the need for tailored interventions. Addressing challenges related to data quality, algorithmic transparency, and ethical concerns is essential for real-world applications. This study highlights the potential of machine learning in early detection and intervention for mental health issues. Future research should explore advanced feature engineering techniques and develop more interpretable models to enhance clinical decision-making.

Keywords

• Machine learning
• Mental health
• Model development
• Practical approach