“We have seen a tendency in the last five years or so for students to self-diagnose based on what they’re seeing on TikTok, particularly, but other social medias,” Saunders says. Raper believes the challenges with students and social media go deeper than scrolling Instagram or Facebook. Only 12 percent of Student Voice participants say “more pre-existing health conditions” is one of the biggest drivers of the college mental health crisis. Data on students with disabilities finds there is a greater number of students receiving accommodations for mental and emotional disabilities.
Personal well-being was assessed by Wang, Chua using a scale developed by Diener et al., integrating both emotional states and overall life satisfaction. For example, Kong and You utilized the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) to assess participants’ emotional and cognitive evaluations of life . Table 3 also indicates that depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed as a combined construct. Wellbeing is measured through 7 different methods, including subjective well-being, satisfaction with life, mental health inventory, spiritual well-being, quality of life, depression, and health behaviours. In psychology, well-being is a positive state encompassing mental health and overall life satisfaction. This period captures recent trends, ensuring the analysis aligns with the current challenges and supports dynamics impacting student well-being.
Associated Data
ConnexOntarioFree, confidential help to find mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services Resources for student parents and pregnant students anywhere in Ontario — they listen, answer questions, and connect you with the right supports in your community. Staff at King’s who are supporting students can find a range of helpful information and resources on our SharePoint site, Thrive. A survey from the Hi, How Are You Project finds that 55 percent of students received mental health care, but onl
Need for Mental Health Support Outpacing Resources
In 2007, an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech University shot and killed 32 people, and wounded 17 others, before he died by suicide. These policies can provide clear treatment recommendations and instructions on what conditions students need to be met in order to return to school, resulting in a higher likelihood of the students enrolling once again. In general, very few students who take a leave of absence from school end up returning. From fall 2015 to early spring 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, an average of 12 students per year left on medical leave out of the nearly 4,000 students enrolled at the school.
Conducted in 2024 and 2025 and surveying more than 84,000 students across 135 American colleges and universities, the study finds that severe depression symptoms among college students dropped in the past two years to 18% – down from 23% who said they experienced severe depression in 2022. Health advocates and providers have long been worried about the need for additional support for struggling college students. The authors also suggest that efforts need to go beyond mental health services in college counseling centers and involve a multipronged, public health approach with buy-in, support, input, and participation of key stakeholders.
Peer Support Groups
- Finding online mental health resources that resonate with you and your individual identity can be challenging.
- Overall, the substantial body of research underscores the profound impact of social support on multiple dimensions of well-being.
- This, in turn, promotes greater well-being, indicating the intricate linkages between emotional competencies and social interactions.
- Recent headlines paint a sobering picture of campus life across America.
- Students have also been working with officials on finding space for a campus dog park for emotional support animals living with students.
Offering MHFA training isn’t just good for students — it benefits faculty and staff too. By training your college community, you’re taking proactive steps to address challenges before they escalate into crises. By recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, we’ve built a culture of empathy and confidence, ensuring that everyone, from faculty to peers, has the tools to help each other through difficult times.” MHFA is an evidence-based training program designed to teach people how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges.
When young people gather in supportive groups, they discover they’re not alone in their struggles. When COVID-19 hit, healthcare providers found themselves working under traumatic conditions without adequate psychological support. As a mother of three young adults—two currently in college—I’ve witnessed how today’s campus environment creates unprecedented pressures. As universities struggle to meet surging demand for mental health services—with some institutions reporting 40% increases in service requests since the pandemic—we need a more comprehensive approach.