The latest iteration of the annual Healthy Minds Study found that student mental health is slowly but surely improving. The survey involved more than 100,000 undergraduates from nearly 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. and paints a detailed picture of students’ mental health struggles and where and how they’re getting help. [Inside Higher Ed]

According to Uwill founder Michael London, “the data suggest an improving outlook for mental health, with rates of depression declining from their peak during the pandemic.” But he also reminded our team that “with a third of students now reporting serious or severe depression, we’re not out of the woods yet. The focus has to shift toward expanding access, and putting care within reach of students.”

Key findings

  • 38% of all respondents experienced moderate or severe depression symptoms in the 2023-24 academic year, down from a 44% peak two years ago. This is a small decline and is still above pre-pandemic levels (36% in fall 2019); however, it is the second year in a row that the number has dropped, potentially signaling a downward trend.
  • Many students experienced loneliness, reporting lack of companionship (61%), feeling left out (67%), and isolation from others (67%).
  • In the past 12 months, just over one-third (36%) of all respondents received professional counseling or therapy for their mental or emotional health. 39% of students reached out to friends and family members for informal mental health support.

The improvement may have to do with increased recognition of need: over three-quarters (78%) of students at least “somewhat agree” that they need help managing feelings of sadness, anxiousness, or nervousness. 25% of students “strongly agree” that they need mental or emotional health care. 

It also may have to do with students’ awareness of the mental health support systems and resources available to them on their college campuses. The majority (76%) of respondents said they at least “somewhat agree” that they know where to access professional mental or emotional health resources from their school.

But accessibility is still a concern. In 2019, 90% of campus counseling center directors reported an increase in demand, which has led to burnout, high turnover, and reduced capacity among mental and emotional health care providers. This also resulted in longer wait times for students to see a professional—sometimes weeks to months. Private mental and emotional wellness services can also be prohibitively expensive for students, further hindering their ability to get help.

To improve accessibility, states and institutions are partnering with mental health solution providers like Uwill to bolster on-demand mental health care and crisis supports for students both on and off campus.

Why it matters: Students experiencing mental and emotional health challenges are more likely to struggle academically and have lower GPAs and less enthusiasm for their studies than their peers. Mental health issues can also have major implications for college persistence and completion: according to the most recent Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education report, 35% of students have considered dropping out of college in the last six months, about half attributing that decision to mental health (43%) or emotional stress (53%). [Forbes, subscription model]

Mental health challenges have lifelong consequences. A new white paper from InsideTrack and Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) highlights how mental health issues stemming from trauma and toxic stress can negatively impact a person’s employment and financial stability. A study referenced in the paper found that 61% of workers feel their mental health impacts their productivity; additionally, one-third of respondents had left a role due—at least in part—to their mental health, making early intervention both a compassionate and strategic business decision. [WorkingNation]