Three Considerations to Effectively Address Mental Health in Higher Education

Dr. Nathaan DemersIt goes without saying that college campuses are in a difficult position when it comes to addressing student mental health and well-being. A fall 2021 survey of the YOU at College campus network revealed 98.7% of students strongly, or very strongly, agreed that expanding mental health services should be a priority for institutions. What we’ve seen in the last 18+ months of the pandemic is an increased recognition within student populations that mental health is directly tied to academic performance and intent to persist in school, with Healthy Minds Data showing 83% of students saying their mental health has negatively impacted their academic performance. Now, more than ever, students are aware of the challenges they face, and are asking their institutions to provide services and resources to support their well-being and overall success.

From our perspectives — as a researcher and assistant professor of public health, as well as a clinical psychologist who develops well-being resources for campuses nationwide — there are several realities and considerations that campus leaders must prioritize to best support their students and campus communities:

• The Need for Data: For the past decade, mental health has been top of mind for campus administrators across nearly all institution types. Data from the National Healthy Minds Study, as well as other sources, has documented rising prevalence rates, with symptoms of depression and anxiety roughly doubling over the past 10 years. Counseling center utilization rates have increased at a pace 5x-7x greater than increases in student enrollment and counseling centers simply have not been able to keep up with these demands. While many campuses swiftly implemented programming to provide telehealth options for mental health during COVID, data suggested an overall decrease in the number of students seeking counseling services in the 2020-2021 academic year, despite the increase in distress during this time.

What we’ve learned is that data provides institutions a window into trends, needs, and areas of emphasis that individual campuses can leverage to build awareness and invest in resources that ensure a proactive approach to providing students, faculty, and staff with adequate systems of care.

With this consideration, it is important that campuses create an infrastructure that allows for internal quantitative and qualitative research to learn what their communities need from a mental health standpoint, which will guide proactive responses and programming to best address those areas. Furthermore, campuses must spend time and attention prioritizing the experience and needs of students from diverse and historically marginalized backgrounds, given the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had upon these students.

Dr. Sarah Ketchen LipsonAdditional survey data from the YOU at College campus network found that 75% of students noted that inclusion and personalization to their unique identities is a major aspect of choosing to engage with mental health and well-being interventions on campus. Leaning into more qualitative and quantitative analysis such as this will help provide a vital roadmap for institutional planning and evaluation, creating more cohesive and supportive communities.

• Build Well-Being Into the Fabric of Universities: COVID-19 turned students’ worlds upside down, creating a difficult problem for institutions trying to connect with and address student mental health and well-being. In addition to this disconnect from school life, there was the added grief of missing countless milestones on campus, as well as the removal of traditional supports that schools offer (i.e. friend networks, sports, clubs, counseling services, RAs). It is not surprising that 89% of students surveyed by Active Minds in fall 2020 indicated that their mental health worsened in light of COVID, which stressed each campus's ability to provide adequate support.