Anxiety disorders are the most commonly experienced mental health disorders, affecting a significant section of the population including young adults. Although the importance of mental health challenges caused by anxiety and depression is examined and reported by researchers and agencies worldwide, the granularity for region-specific studies particularly in emerging economies like India is missing. This study takes up the call for comprehensive, population-specific, and region-specific research on Indian young adults to provide evidence for developing policies and interventions. This study offers a descriptive analysis of the prevalence of anxiety and depression among young adults across academic disciplines, and demographic segments. Data for this study was collected through an online survey using Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) circulated among college students in a selected region. The respondents were approached using a convenience sampling method, the study received a total of 135 responses. Data was analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. A significant portion of college students covered in this study experienced moderate to severe levels of depression and anxiety. While there were no significant differences in depression and anxiety levels across gender groups, students pursuing different academic disciplines experience anxiety differently. Moreover, depression level was observed significantly different across the levels of study. Educational institutions can leverage the insights based on this research to develop and implement tailored support services, including counseling and stress management sessions, and workshops.
