Dr. Linda L. Garcia
The report, funded by The Kresge Foundation, "Supporting Minds, Supporting Learners: Addressing Student Mental Health to Advance Academic Success" explores the data of the 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) for returning students and the 2023 Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) for entering students. These included questions related to anxiety and depression as well as access to mental health resources. CCSSE data comes from 61,085 students across 149 community colleges who participated in spring 2023, and SENSE data comes from 13,950 students across 61 community colleges who participated in fall 2023.
“We really have to know who the student is, not just their experience in the course at the campus, but what’s going on beyond that in their lives that’s going to prevent them from getting to the finish line,” said Dr. Linda L. Garcia, executive director of CCCSE. “If we can find a way to start understanding that at the very beginning when students come to the campus for the first time…we can connect them to resources or inform them of resources…so they feel cared for, noticed and that someone believes in them.”
Respondents to both CCSSE and SENSE report mental health concerns. 66% of the respondents to both surveys indicated being bothered by feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge. 30% of CCSSE respondents said they didn’t know where to go for mental health support and 42% reported not seeking mental health support despite feeling that they needed it.
The report draws a clear correlation between positive mental health and academic persistence. By example, 56% of CCSSE respondents reported that emotional or mental difficulties impacted their academic performance during the four weeks prior to taking the survey and 37% said mental health issues could cause them to withdraw from courses or college. Respondents held mixed impressions of whether their colleges placed a priority on mental health.
Elisabeth Lackner, director of institutional research at Queensborough Community College (QCC) in New York City, said the report reflects what QCC students experience.
