Mental Health
College students’ mental health may be at risk due to college being a major life transition and the added stresses of college life in general.
While some stress and anxiety can be beneficial, untreated mental health conditions can produce negative outcomes. Compiled here are resources relating to research and best practices for mental health to aid campuses in providing effective mental health support.
Scope
National Data
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report includes the following key findings on mental health1:
- 23% of adults aged 18 or older (or 59.2 million people) received mental health treatment in the past year, an increase of 3.4 million from 2022.
- Among adults aged 18 or older in 2023, 22.8% (or 58.7 million people) had any mental illness (AMI) in the past year.
- 4.5 million youth (ages 12 to 17) had a major depressive episode in the past year, of which nearly 1 in 5 also had a substance use disorder.
- Among adults aged 18 or older in 2023, 5.0% (or 12.8 million people) had serious thoughts of suicide, 1.4% (or 3.7 million people) made a suicide plan, and 0.6% (or 1.5 million people) attempted suicide in the past year.
According to National College Health Assessment2 data, over 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem.
21.6% of college students said depression impacted their studies with 64% of students no longer pursuing their college due to mental health issues.
Missouri Data
In the past year 63% of Missouri college students have experienced anxiety, 44% have experienced depression, 25% have experienced panic attacks, and 25% have experienced chronic sleep issues.
23% of students who have experienced mental health concerns in the past year did not seek assistance, and for those who did their primary source of assistance was*:
- Family/friends – 32%
- Off campus mental health provider – 22%
- Off campus medical doctor – 22%
- College/university counseling services – 14%
*Question is check all that apply. All Missouri data is from the 2025 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors Survey.
Around 1 in 10 students (13%) said they did not seek assistance but practiced self-care and other types of management on their own.
Warning Signs
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the following, it could be a sign that you or they could be experiencing mental health issues:
- Excessive worrying or fear
- Feeling excessively sad or low
- Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
- Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
- Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
- Avoiding friends and social activities
- Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
- Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
- Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
- Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
- Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality
- Misuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
- Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
- Thinking about suicide
- Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
- An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance
Protective Factors
The risk of mental health issues can be lowered by certain protective factors. They include:
- Good coping and problem solving skills
- Having a strong support system (family, friends, and school)
- Inclusive group norms
- Opportunities to participate in a range of activities
- Physical and psychologically safe environment
- A school environment that encouraged help seeking and promotes health
Population Considerations
- Multiracial adults aged 18 or older were more likely than adults in most other racial or ethnic groups to have AMI, serious mental illness (SMI), and serious thoughts of suicide.
- The pressures of adjusting to an unfamiliar culture is a risk factor common to many diverse groups, especially recent immigrants.
- Mental health struggles, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use, are common risk factors among returning veterans.
- Since members of the LGBTQ+ community often experience higher rates of discrimination, harassment, and victimization, this can increase their rates of major depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use. This also greatly increases their risk factors for mental health concerns and suicide.
Best Practices
CCMH
The Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State is a practice-research-network that focuses on providing information on the mental health of today’s college students. CCMH provides annual reports on college students who are receiving mental health services, reporting on trends and best practices based in practice, research, and technology. Learn more at ccmh.psu.edu.
NAMI
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is dedicated to bettering the lives of those affected by mental illness. Nami educates, advocates, listens, and leads on programs, policies, organizations, and practices relating to mental health. Visit NAMI Website to learn more.
NCAA Sport Science Institute
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes that mental health is a major factor in the academic and athletic success and well-being of student-athletes. The NCAA Sport Science Institute partners with mental health organizations to research and educate universities, coaches, and student-athletes on the importance of mental health. The NCAA Sport Science Institute have researched and published documents on student-athlete mental wellness. Learn more about the Sport Science Institute.
Strategic Planning
Craft a strategic plan to address students’ mental health. Keep in mind – what specific results or changes do you hope to achieve and how will those help reduce mental health concerns and promote help-seeking?
Strategic Planning Steps
Step 1:
Describe the Problem and Context
Step 2:
Identify Priority Problems & Long-Range Goals
Step 3:
Consult Science & Identify Strategies
Step 4:
Select or Develop Interventions
Step 5:
Develop an Evaluation Plan
Step 6:
Create an Action Plan
Step 7:
Implement, Evaluate, & Improve Intervention
The Jed Foundation’s Guide to Campus Mental Health Action Planning is also a good resource for campuses.
Citations
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2024). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP24-07-021, NSDUH Series H-59). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment III: Undergraduate Student Reference Group Data Report Fall 2021. Silver Spring, MD: American College Health Association; 2022.
