In the bustling halls of universities across America, the mental health crisis among college-aged students is rapidly unraveling into a harsh and somber reality. As one walks through the perfectly manicured lawns and walkways and sits in the grand and historic lecture halls, attempting to engage in the lecture material they know will be crucial for passing the class, it’s easy to forget the turbulent undercurrents shackling many college-aged students. Despite the vibrant atmosphere, filled with the hum of intellectual pursuit and social engagement, there lies a growing epidemic of debilitating anxiety, depression, and overwhelming stress. This crisis, frequently unnoticed and quietly endured, has become one of the biggest concerns in higher education today.
Mental health issues have certainly seen an increase in prevalence among most age groups. However, none seems quite as pronounced as the prevalence among college-aged students. According to considerable research and data on the topic, roughly 60% of college students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety, and 40% reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function at some point in the past year. Such high percentages of student-reported anxiety and depression should be alarming to everyone. They suggest a significant portion of the student body is struggling with profound emotional and psychological challenges. While it is rather difficult to identify one single component that has led to such significant mental health issues amongst college students, there’s little doubt that a mixture of both academic and social factors can lead to exacerbated mental health difficulties.
The pressure to excel, meet deadlines, and balance a problematic workload in modern-day academia can quickly become overwhelming. The drive to succeed academically is multiplied by the intense fear of failure and the pressing need to secure a “successful” future. In pursuing an impressive resume, many students try to juggle classes, assignments, part-time (or even full-time) jobs, and extracurricular activities, leaving little room for relaxation or self-care.
In addition to aggressive academic pressures, social factors play a significant role in the mental health of college students. Transitioning from home to college often involves moving away from family and established support networks, frequently resulting from numerous years of a buildup of close relationships that are incredibly difficult to replace. When a student leaves their hometown to go to college, the potential difficulty of making close friends can easily lead to social isolation and avoidance, which, according to one study, is a critical risk factor for depression and anxiety among college students.
Financial stress is another critical factor exacerbating the mental health crisis. While financial stress will likely see varying levels among students depending on their socioeconomic status, the rapidly rising tuition and living expenses, which are already incredibly high at major universities like the University of Michigan, alongside the future burden of student loans, can create and worsen financial pressure. This financial stress can quickly lead to concerns over a student’s ability to meet even the most basic needs of survival, as studies have found that nearly half of college students experience food or housing insecurities and difficulties, adding to the stress and anxiety they face.
Furthermore, a factor that has caused significant mental health issues in modern-day academia and should not be ignored would be the pervasive impact of social media and online influence. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are critical to modern social life, but they also contribute to significant pressures and, often, unrealistic comparisons to others. Students are bombarded with images of success and happiness, leading to a sense of inadequacy. The relationship between social media and mental health difficulties is corroborated by research, as there is a strong correlation between excessive social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among young adults.
It is crucial to recognize the impact that poor mental health can have on many other aspects of life, especially for students. Poor mental health can significantly impact academic performance, such as lower grades, poor classroom attendance, and a higher probability of dropping out. These potential effects can be exacerbated if the mental health difficulties are not adequately treated, as students with untreated mental health issues are more likely to leave college before completing their degree.
Outside potential academic impacts, a decline in mental health can have severe consequences for one’s personal health and overall life, as poor mental health is closely tied to an increased probability of self-harm and, tragically, suicidal thoughts and tendencies. These heightened probabilities can already be observed among present-day college students, as some reports suggest suicide is the second leading cause of death among college-aged individuals, highlighting the critical need for legitimately effective mental health interventions.
If the mental health crisis among college-aged students is going to be reduced, there must be much more action toward this cause than we currently observe. Colleges and universities must prioritize expanding mental health services on campus. While effectively every major university offers some form of mental health care or counseling, the efficiency, and availability are often questionable, including at UofM. Universities should substantially increase the availability of counseling and psychological services, including same-day mental health care, and improve the availability of crisis intervention.
Providing financial support to students who need financial aid is also a key component of reversing the current mental health trends. Colleges should offer substantial financial aid programs and resources for budgeting and financial planning to alleviate students’ economic pressures, even beyond what is currently observed across colleges and universities. These can include increasing the availability of scholarships, grants, and emergency funds and ensuring affordable food and water, especially for students who do not have a campus meal plan.
Lastly, and likely the component that is complex and has accelerated the current mental health trends would be addressing social media’s role in this crisis. Educating students about the impact of social media on mental health can be helpful in making students more aware of its effects, but is likely nowhere near enough to reverse the role of social media in this crisis. Realistically, ensuring there is ample availability of recreational activities and other events that allow college-aged students to find an outlet outside of social media could be critical in reducing the potential adverse effects of social media.
The mental health crisis among college students has shown little sign of reversing or improving. While there appears to be considerable attention directed toward mental health by colleges and universities, the infrastructure currently available to students is often questionable and, occasionally, outright dysfunctional. Suppose there is more of a concerted effort towards providing straightforward and efficient opportunities for mental health treatment beyond what is currently available. In that case, it is possible to reduce the footprint the mental health crisis has on students.
