Starting college is the first foray into adulthood, where all big decisions fall entirely on your shoulders. As far as life changes go, it’s a major one. It can be as exhilarating as it can be stressful — and stressful it is for many.
The pandemic came and went, but the mental health challenges stayed. Even after campuses reopened and restrictions disappeared, the demand for mental health services surged, increasing by 40% in some schools.
Anxiety, depression, prolonged stress, and other difficulties don’t just disrupt a student’s life as it is. Mental health challenges can undermine academic performance and cause some to drop out. That’s why it’s crucial to address this crisis — and that starts with defining the underlying key problems.
8 Revealing Statistics of Mental Health in College Students
Even in the years leading up to the pandemic, on-campus mental health services were reporting a surge in demand. The latest Healthy Minds study gathered 2024-2025 data from 135 colleges and universities to shed light on the current state of mental health issues in college students. Its findings included:
- 37% of college students showed symptoms of depression, with 17% meeting the criteria for a severe depression diagnosis
- 33% showed symptoms of anxiety
- 28% are likely to have an eating disorder
- 27% have attempted non-suicidal self-injury in the previous year
- 38% have received mental health counseling or therapy in the previous year
- 29% have taken psychiatric medication over the past year
- 11% report contemplating suicide over the past year
- 36% believe most people will think less of someone who received mental health treatment
How Does Mental Health Affect College Students?
Only 33% of college students report no academic impairment due to emotional or mental difficulties. In turn, 37% report their academic performance suffered for 3 or more days over the past 4 weeks due to mental health challenges.
That happens for a plethora of immediate consequences that follow excessive stress, anxiety, and depression. Caused by anxiety or depression, sleep difficulties lead to issues with concentration, cognitive abilities, and memory. Physical health also suffers from the prolonged stress, lack of quality sleep, and unhealthy eating habits that may accompany mental health difficulties.
Depression correlates with lower GPAs, with the relationship even more pronounced if depression and anxiety occur simultaneously. What’s more, depression may also lead to dropping out of school.
How to Support College Students’ Mental Health
Both the faculty and classmates can be the first responders for someone in a crisis. That said, for this support to be effective, both faculty and students need training on how to approach mental health conversations and spot struggling students.
Peer support groups, in turn, are known to reduce stigma around mental health and provide a safety net to those who struggle.
Family members also have an important role to play. Their engagement leads to better outcomes in patients with mental health issues, such as:
- Improved compliance with medication and treatment plans
- Reduced depressive episode severity
- Better self-reported quality of life
- Reduced social impairment
Supportive on-campus environment also matters: it makes recognizing symptoms in oneself and seeking help easier. Here’s what faculty and administrative staff can do to foster it:
- Accommodate differences in languages spoken, faith, gender, abilities, and experience with discrimination in policies and services
- Talk openly about mental health on campus to destigmatize the conversation and inform about the resources available
- Ensure counseling and support services are easily accessible to those who need them
- Offer different forms of support (peer groups, brief assessments, etc.)
- Train the faculty and staff to notice signs of distress
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle and daily routines
Available Mental Health Programs for College Students
Mental health challenges among college students, unfortunately, aren’t a revelation. The silver lining is that, as schools and nonprofits alike have had time to respond to them, multiple mental health resources for college students are available for those in need.
Mental Health Support for College Students on Campus
Virtually every college and university offers counseling and support services to its students, all for free. Those services can include brief assessments and evaluations, short-term counseling for common concerns (anxiety, stress, etc.), and support groups. If a student needs long-term care, the counselor will usually refer them to an off-campus community provider.
Colleges and universities also strive to raise awareness about mental health challenges through workshops, seminars, and awareness campaigns. Some provide wellness, mindfulness, and stress management training to help students cope with the fast-paced college life.
College Mental Health Program
Under its College Mental Health Program, McLean Hospital treats students from over 200 colleges and universities every year. The program is intended for college students who experience adjustment issues or are diagnosed with mental disorders.
McLean staff also works with students’ peers, families, and colleges and universities directly to provide the best personalized care possible. Its range of services includes addressing challenges around anxiety, OCD, executive functioning, eating disorders, depression, and substance use. The services themselves can include:
- Symptom education peer groups
- Consultation with treatment teams
- Individual meetings to prepare for return to college or a medical leave of absence
BetterMynd
Founded in 2017, BetterMynd is a platform that connects students with a network of online therapy providers in all 50 states across the nation. The platform works closely with 150+ colleges and universities to make therapy more accessible for students in need.
While online therapy sessions are BetterMynd’s main offering, it’s not the only one. The organization also helps colleges and universities manage the day-to-day workings of counseling centers through a Campus Administrator Dashboard.
On top of that, BetterMynd has a 24/7 support line for those in crisis. The platform also offers wellbeing workshops to students who are looking to improve their mental health in the long run.
7 Mental Health Tips for College Students
Mental health is a garden that needs regular tending. While no one is ever 100% invincible to mental health difficulties, you can improve your chances of warding them off by:
- Sticking to a routine. Chaotic schedules can easily cause more stress, especially if you’re used to more structured days. Routines will bring that structure to your days, lowering stress levels, keeping you productive, and boosting your ability to concentrate.
- Getting enough quality sleep. Lack of sleep and poor quality of sleep correlate with higher risks of depression and anxiety onset. They also undermine your ability to concentrate, form long-term memories, and retrieve acquired information. So, stick to a routine and avoid screens before bedtime.
- Staying physically active. Adults are advised to spend at least 2.5 hours a week (roughly 20 minutes a day) exercising. Exercising improves brain health, reduces feelings of anxiety and depression, and improves cognitive abilities. You don’t have to go to the gym: a brisk 20-minute walk every day will suffice.
- Eating healthy. A poor diet can make you feel more tired and exacerbate symptoms of stress and depression. Eat a balanced diet to give your brain the nutrition it needs to produce serotonin and other feel-good hormones.
- Staying hydrated. Your body might feel very solid to you, but it’s mostly water. Your brain is 73% water, in fact. So, make sure to drink water whenever you’re thirsty.
- Practicing gratitude. As a form of mindfulness, this practice involves focusing on what you’re grateful for in your life or during the day, no matter how small it is. Keep a gratitude journal; strive to write in it once or twice a week.
- Keeping the room clean. Your messy room can contribute to higher stress levels and decreased focus. Decluttering can help you regain a sense of control and self-efficacy. Start small and make cleaning up a habit.
Final Thoughts
Mental health of college students isn’t just a personal matter; it’s a community matter. Yes, mental health challenges can hinder a person’s academic performance and even cause them to drop out. But they also impact people’s lives long after their college years are over, potentially causing disruptions in communities, substance use problems, and chronic health issues.
As every student has unique experiences and background, the offered counselling and support services and policies should reflect that diversity. Otherwise, disparities in access to mental health services will persist.