The majority of college students say they have experienced mental health issues on campus, putting the burden on higher-ed leaders to support student mental health and well-being, according to a new report.
Barnes and Noble Education surveyed 762 college students to understand how they handle and support mental and physical well-being. The results offer an opportunity for campus leaders to create initiatives for student mental health support.
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Seventy-six percent of students say they have experienced mental health issues such as significant stress, anxiety, or depression. Among those students, 89 percent report high levels of stress, 86 percent experience anxiety, and 66 percent experience depression.
Many students today grew up during the 2008 financial crisis, and watching their parents and adults in their lives struggle with job security and housing may make them feel additional pressure to excel, both academically and financially, the report notes.
Other students are professionals juggling work and family responsibilities, while others are first-generation college students and may not have supports for success in place at home.
These are today’s “typical” college students, and once leaders know what these students juggle each day, student mental health and well-being becomes a priority.
Students struggle with more than academics once they reach college–they have to adjust to life on their own, manage their finances, and navigate new social settings. It’s up to campus leaders, friends, parents, and family to help students take ownership of their mental health and avoid dropping out.
Students identified many areas that impact their mental health and well-being, including getting good grades (79 percent), balancing different areas of their lives (74 percent), paying for their own tuition and/or room and board (57 percent), having friends and a social life (42 percent), finding a job after graduation (40 percent), and balancing a career with schoolwork (32 percent).
How to support student mental health on campus
Surveyed students identified five things universities can do to better support student mental health and well-being:
1. Offer more flexibility with homework assignments (52 percent)
2. Have open conversations with professors about mental health (35 percent)
3. Offer more resources, such as campus counseling services, within the campus student wellness center (33 percent)
4. Offer more affordable student health insurance and student life fees (29 percent)
5. Have better academic support, such as academic support centers, tutors, etc. (27 percent)
Twenty-two percent of students said they do not need assistance with their mental well-being.
Eighty-five percent of students said their school offers resources such as campus counseling centers, but just 24 percent of students have used those resources.
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