These students were three times more likely than the full sample to have recently used college counseling. Additionally, when it comes to knowing where to turn for mental health support, nearly 3 out 4 of students endorsed some lack of confidence in knowing where to find help on campus. According to a recent survey, 9 out of 10 college students have struggled with their mental health in some capacity during the pandemic. There is no shortage of discussion around the mental health challenges currently facing college students.

Mental Health Crisis

Mental health issues in colleges across the world have been showing a marked increase both in numbers and severity12,13, presumably owning to rapid socio-economic transitions, migration, the disintegration of social networks and substance use8,13. However, in a significant proportion, these stressors interact with genetic and psychosocial adversities, increasing the likelihood of mental health issues1. It also clarifies how various forms of support—such as emotional encouragement, practical help, or advice—from different sources, including family, peers, and romantic partners, influence student well-being across diverse cultural contexts.

• Stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic and their use of mental health services.
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• The intense competition among peers makes it essential that callers feel safe, and that mental health issues are not discovered, labeling students as having a personal weakness that might limit their academic career.
• Oftentimes, students either don’t know how to find proper help for the situation they’re facing; or, as noted in this Inside Higher Ed article, they receive conflicting information from their campus about where to turn and ultimately don’t receive help.

Inside the college mental health crisis

Considering the increasing body of evidence supporting its effectiveness, internet-based interventions can be made available to bridge the shortage in mental health resources18. Clinical triaging at the first point of contact needs to ensure that the vast majority of students presenting with transient situational crises are provided the least resource-intensive counselling interventions on campus. Ideally, all higher educational institutions should have an accessible, culturally and developmentally integrated system of mental health support1,8.

Students who feel they have strong social support generally experience better mental health, face fewer psychological difficulties, and tend to perform better academically . Entering university is a significant milestone in a young person’s life, with considerable academic, social, and emotional changes. Ruth M. López and Vincent D. Carales of the University of Houston look at what colleges can learn from Hurricane Harvey to address student mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent surveys demonstrate that many college students do not know whether they have borrowed or how Resources for student parents and pregnant students much debt they have accrued during college. Understanding when and how to intervene and when to refer to others will enhance your role on campus and help ensure students get the support they need. Self-care strategies can address a range of aspects of your life, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.

What Are the Benefits of Early Identification and Intervention for Mental Health Issues?

TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. “But just to know that there’s another voice and ear on campus that you can talk to” can make all the difference. “What they really need is to talk to people who’ve had similar experiences, who share their thoughts and fears and anxieties and excitement about this chapter in their lives.” “Being able to talk to someone who seems closer to a friend than an adult is an easier step for people to take.” “We are not recommending the complete abandonment” of these programs, the authors write in the ACE report, but they shouldn’t be a campus’ only solution.