Abstract
University students often face high mental health challenges but rarely seek treatment, leading to distress and suicidal behavior. This study addresses this gap by examining the prevalence, risk factors, and accessibility of mental health care among Bangladeshi university students. A total of 267 samples were collected from three different Bangladeshi universities through face-to-face interviews, gathering socio-demographic, health, and behavior variables, along with data using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The results indicate that, approximately just over a quarter reported psychological distress (30.3%). Risk factors for psychological distress among university students included coming from joint families, living in university halls, being financially self-supported, not regularly engaging in religious practices, having insomnia, feeling uncomfortable discussing mental health issues with friends, having moderate social support, and facing significant challenges in overcoming psychological distress. The findings will help in implementing university-based mental health programs, increasing awareness, reducing stigma, enhancing access to professional care, including suicide prevention, and providing baseline data for future research.