Research shows that college students are barely less more likely to experience severe depression. But the mental health crisis is way from over

Many highschool seniors across the country are within the midst of school applications—often a high-stakes, anxiety-ridden process.

But students needn’t stress after getting admission.

Emotional stress, mental health and tuition costs are the highest three reasons students drop out of school 2023 Gallup poll Out of 14,032 students.

By most standards, there may be one Mental health crisis Among college students. But the University of Michigan Healthy Brains Survey, The nation’s largest student mental health study To date, it has recently been found that college students are reporting lower rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for the third 12 months in a row.

Conducted in 2024 and 2025 and surveying greater than 84,000 students at 135 US colleges and universities, the study found that Symptoms of severe depression Among college students, it fell to 18 percent up to now two years — down from 23 percent who said that they had experienced major depression in 2022. Students who had suicidal thoughts dropped from 15 percent in 2022 to 11 percent in 2024 and 2025.

I actually have worked in student affairs and college health for the past 25 years, leading substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion efforts, and overseeing multiple clinical services. Despite recent optimism, I’m still alarmed by the prevalence and severity of student mental health concerns across the country.

Taking a break

The College Student Experience High stress levels Due to a confluence of things including academic pressure, financial concerns and complicated social dynamics. Understanding the basis causes of student stress is a crucial prerequisite for schools to provide you with effective ways to assist students manage their stress and succeed in class.

But even when schools offer extensive mental health programs, students still have to take a break occasionally to give attention to their health and well-being.

Over the past 10 years, I actually have reviewed and approved medical evacuations for 133 students at Babson College. From fall 2015 to early spring 2020, before the Covid-19 pandemic, a mean of 12 students every year were on medical omit of the roughly 4,000 students enrolled at the varsity.

The average number of scholars taking medical leave then increased to about two a 12 months from 2020 to 2025. About 82% of those are related to mental health.

About 70% of those students eventually return to campus and eventually graduate. In general, only a few students who take a leave of absence from school return.

However, there are some schools that use proactive, non-remedial policies to assist students who take breaks get more remedial treatment. These policies can provide clear treatment recommendations and directions on what conditions students need to satisfy in an effort to return to highschool, making students more more likely to return to highschool.

Understanding well-being

Wellness is a word that’s on the mind of many higher education leaders, yet not one in colleges and universities. What is the definition of goodness? This means, even though it is usually a term schools use to discuss student mental health. Goodness is generally encompassing Acknowledging and being comfortable together with your emotions, and being equipped to handle stress.

Despite the drive to embed student mental health and wellness into the very fabric of an establishment, many colleges and universities still depend on reaching out to as many students as possible. Traditional methods – For example, through health fairs and data tables in the scholar center.

While these strategies actually serve a purpose to assist raise awareness of mental health resources, when utilized in isolation, they’re unlikely to be effective. Resulting in a change in actual behavior Among the scholars.

Students of ColorBlack and Latino students, particularly, are more likely than white students to temporarily withdraw from college.

One step organizations can take is: Hire more faculty, staff and mental health counselors Who are people of color and may higher connect with minority students through shared lived experiences?

Well-being is central to student success

In 2007, an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech University 32 people were shot deadand wounded 17 others before dying by suicide.

Schools have since adopted early warning systems – also known as Care teams – Helping discover students who’re struggling, academically, socially or emotionally. The idea is that schools can intervene and connect students with campus resources corresponding to academic advisors, student success coaches, outreach services, financial aid and mental health support.

Ongoing training for faculty, staff, and students on methods to activate these support systems and handover to the care team is critical to their success. The goal is to solid a large net so students don’t fall through the cracks and go unnoticed when they are not mentally well, which has happened. With the Virginia Tech shooter.

Dozens of campusesNew York University, including Indiana State University, the University of North Dakota, Ohio State University and Harvard University, have also embraced mindfulness practices in recent times, offering breath work and other types of meditation to their students as free services on campus.

Some campus police departments Therapy dogs have also begun to be used To help strengthen students’ mental health and community engagement.

Other schools, eg Stevens Institute of Technology And Princeton Universityhave stopped opening labs and libraries 24/7 to encourage students to take breaks and rest — though admittedly most institutions have made these changes consequently of budget cuts, and fewer as a proactive, preventative measure.

Positioning students for fulfillment

I actually have debated this for a very long time Well-being is central to academic, personal and professional success.

In recent years, I actually have also encouraged schools to position wellness as a key driver for student academic, personal and skilled success.

Research has linked student well-being to staying in class, and findings suggest that faculties can improve Mental health programs targeted to improve retention rates. In other words, specializing in students’ health and well-being can, actually, lead to raised outcomes emotionally, physically, and academically.