Mental Health on Campus: How Universities Can Support Students

I firmly believe that every higher education organization has an obligation to foster growth and achievement among students, not just by providing ample opportunities to learn and develop, but also by creating a safe environment where students feel heard and supported. Mental health has always played a critical role in student success, as it directly affects the ability of the student to learn and retain information. 

However, mental health has taken on even greater importance in the post-pandemic era, with 80% of college students having reported that COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health. Depression and anxiety are increasingly common among university students, with recent data showing that more than 60% of students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem. This only exacerbates many of the other common challenges students deal with such as maintaining their studies, managing their finances, fostering interpersonal relationships, dealing with the recent discourse on racial and ethnic inequalities, etc. All of this adds up over time. 

On top of these many challenges, many elements of our day-to-day life seem tailored and made to wear down a student's mental health. Research continually shows that social media is designed in ways that reinforce unhealthy behaviors, putting a large amount of the population at an increased risk for anxiety, depression, and other issues. Cases have gotten so bad that we’ve seen a slew of lawsuits leveled against social media giants, with officials from Bucks County having recently announced a sweeping lawsuit against the companies behind site likes of Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. They argue that social media’s addictive qualities and role in inspiring negative self-image, demanding both accountability and unspecified financial damages for the rising costs of mental health services the county offers to young people.

Yet while technology can have a negative impact on mental health, it isn’t all bad. In fact, universities’ heightened mental health support has heavily relied on digital solutions. Even prior to the pandemic, technology tools were being adopted to better support students’ mental health and emotional wellness needs, something that has only picked up over the past few years. Many institutions have adopted digital counseling, telehealth appointments, and other digital services, with several organizations making these digital offerings free and accessible. 

Universities are looking at many other possible solutions to support students’ mental health as well. For instance, the University of Maryland is currently offering a one-credit course designed to teach emotional regulation, where students can learn the skills needed to manage negative emotions. Some universities have even found ways to tie mental health and emotional wellness initiatives throughout the curriculum, such as The University of Texas at Austin, which brought on a curriculum specialist to guide teachers to better articulate both an academic and personal investment in their students. 

However, perhaps the most important thing that universities can do to better support students’ mental health and wellness is to do away with the idea that these issues are the sole responsibility of the campus health center. Mental health is interwoven into the student experience, so it needs to be an institutional priority. Everyone on campus, from administration to teaching faculty, can play a role in fostering well-being and support.

More than ever before, colleges and universities need to take a vested interest in student mental health and its impact on academic success and retention. I encourage university presidents and other top leaders to work together towards this goal, as they are the ones who can lead the way and implement the kind of mental health policies that will support students in their time of need. 

Sources:

• https://www.activeminds.org/press-releases/active-minds-and-association-of-college-and-university-educators-release-guide-on-practical-approaches-for-supporting-student-wellbeing-and-mental-health-copy/ 
• https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/college-students-mental-health-covid-19.html 
• https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/01/13/new-course-teaches-skills-tackling-mental-distress 
• https://www.apus.edu/newsroom/press-releases/2023/2023-03-01-apus-prioritizes-students-mental-health-and-wellness-with-free-access-to-talkcampus-app 
• https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care
• https://www.uclahealth.org/news/study-reveals-challenges-faced-by-college-students-during-covid-19-pandemic
• https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2022/12/18/meta-tiktok-others-being-sued-here-are-10-ways-social-media-can-hurt-kids-mental-health/
• https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/mental-health-campus-care