**6. Factors leading to depression and anxiety among the youth**

A known fact is that rural areas are mostly disadvantaged with limited health programs, facilities, restricted assistance from experts, and fully qualified professionals [11] experience different stressors and psychological discomfort, which is usually caused by differences in family background and their family history, including monthly household income, parental vocations and education, and their interaction with families [12]. Financial stress and family background were found to be substantial negative predictors of students' physical and psychological well-being during their academic years [13]. It is worth noting that various elements contribute to student depression: increased scholastic responsibilities, acclimation to a new environment, family structure, and social life shifts. When compared with students from urban backgrounds, university students from rural regions scored higher on depression, anxiety, and stress scales. This can be explained by the fact that students from rural areas reported having the weaker family economic conditions; in addition, students who lived in leased housing or homes of poor quality were more likely to be affected psychologically [14]. Socioeconomic variables directly influence the incidence of depression among students; for example, research shows that students from lower socioeconomic classes have a greater rate of depression due to financial hardship [15].

Other key determinants of depressed behavior include family conflicts such as divorce and parent separation, rural origins, and a lack of amenities [15]. Biological, environmental, and psychological vulnerabilities all have a role in developing depression, which, when left untreated, can have serious consequences that can affect a person's capacity to function and fulfill duties on a day-to-day basis and may even lead to suicide [16]. Similarly, studying certain courses has been linked to depression and stress. The complexity of life has risen as a result of Westernization and modernization. Students who do poorly in school cannot match their parents' or instructors' expectations, resulting in increased stress, worry, and low self-esteem, leading to depression and anxiety.

On the other hand, students with psychological illnesses, such as depression, are more likely to struggle academically. In a study by Magnúsdóttir et al. [17], rumination may be divided into brooding and pondering. Brooding refers to a passive way of comparing the present situation with more desirable and unattainable standards and is associated with more depressive symptoms. Pondering refers to more purposeful cognitive problem-solving strategies and is associated with fewer depressive symptoms over time. There was an alarmingly high degree of persistence for students who have suffered from depressive disorders and anxiety problems. This may be due to a lack of perceived need for help or a lack of services use. The further deterioration of male students' depression problems may be partly attributed to their negative attitude toward emotional openness, which means they might be reluctant to utilize mental services. Therefore, this is indicative that wellness programs in institutions of higher learning must be reviewed to pay special attention to male students' mental states and encourage them to express their emotions and seek professional help if and when needed [18].

#### *Perspective Chapter: Perspectives toward Overcoming Depression and Anxiety to Enhance… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107033*

Studies suggest varied findings regarding the association of age and gender to mental illness, especially depression. In another study, depression level was significantly related to gender and increasing age. Students over 25 years and undergraduate male students presented higher scores than others [3]. In this study, gender was associated with an increased risk of depression; female students were reported to be more prone to symptoms of depression than male students. It can be concluded that South African females are vulnerable due to risk factors such as interpersonal violence, sexual assault, trauma, social stressors such as relationship problems and insufficient social support [9, 19]. On the contrary, male students were more depressed after a stressful event than females at the University of Pretoria and Limpopo university. The reason could be that males are less likely to seek professional help when experiencing psychological problems. Culturally there is a stigma against the masculine norm of being strong and independent as opposed to being perceived as weak that males always strive to uphold [20]. This practice is to the detriment of their mental health.
