STUDENT LIFE

Mental Health Stress Is on the Rise at Universities Nationwide: What You Need to Know About Your College Counseling Center

Ronald Stolberg, PhD

Alliant International University

If you are feeling a bit of stress or pressure right now, you are not alone. Nearly every survey conducted in the past few years has shown that rates of mental health challenges are rising in colleges and universities across the nation. According to one recent survey, more than 60% of college students currently meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder (Lipson et al., 2022). In another study, almost 75% of the students surveyed admitted that they experienced moderate to severe psychological distress (Lee, Jeong, & Kim, 2021). Just in case you might someday need support too, it is a good idea to learn about how to contact your college Counseling Center and what they can do to help you before you need it.

College Stressors

Being a college student is amazing, but you will face numerous challenges and obstacles. Without any other complications, school is hard. Managing classes, homework, study time, a social life, finances, and all the other self-care activities (e.g., sleep, nutrition, exercise, hobbies) is a full-time job. Throw in feeling homesick, socially isolated, or swamped academically and it becomes extremely difficult. You might also be experiencing relationship stress, concerns about social justice movements, or various levels of loss suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, college life can be stressful and overwhelming.

Using effective coping strategies really helps manage all the various stressors. It’s important to plan ahead, keep to a schedule, and realize when you need a break. Nutritious food, some light exercise, and plenty of restful sleep are great ways to recharge the batteries. Having close friends and classmates is a nice way to ward off some of the stress and frustration too. Remember to sneak in some activities unrelated to school as a way to decompress from the pressures.

Recent Trends in Mental Health

There are a couple of other trends that are important to know about. First, more students than ever have received mental health support before they attended college. This is great, as it suggests that higher education is more available for students from various

Therapy is confidential and does not become part of your educational record, and nobody outside the Counseling Center will ever know that you visited them or received support

backgrounds who have overcome, or are managing, a wide array of struggles. Secondly, stigma around mental health issues is definitely on the decline. As seen in social media posts, professional sports, and society in general, more people are willing to admit to their struggles and the steps they are taking to get support than in recent memory. It is becoming widely accepted to talk about mental health and personal struggles

The other important trend is that college Counseling Centers are offering more services and support for students than they did before the pandemic. They are hiring more clinicians, hosting more mental health awareness events on campus, and trying to make it easy for you to get help if you need it. However, a lot of students still have no idea what the Counseling Center does, how to contact them, and what kinds of support are available.

What Does a College Counseling Center Do?

It varies a little bit from campus to campus, but in general they offer a wide variety of interventions for students that need support. They can provide counseling/therapy, support groups, information, and assessment for an array of issues you might be experiencing. Common issues that students experience include anxiety about being on their own or about school in general, sadness and depression, relationship stress, and anxiety. Other common issues they handle include eating disorders, body image issues, substance use, and emotional support for students with various academic struggles.

How Can I Access the Counseling Center?

It will be a little bit different on every campus. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, accessing support at a college Counseling Center is easier than ever. If you go to your school webpage, there will almost always be a link under a heading about student support or student health. Once connected to the student health portal, you will be able to see what services are available. Most college Counseling Centers will have options for you to make appointments if you arrive in-person, via the phone, or even through an online scheduling portal. They will provide the necessary forms, assessments, and information you will need to get going.

What Kind of Support Is Available?

Counseling Centers are making it easy for you to get the right kind of support for your concerns. They will usually offer you the choice to do therapy in person on-campus, via a secure digital chat or video platform with university counseling staff members, and even digital therapy sessions with trained personnel not affiliated with the university. Typical options include individual 1:1 therapy, support groups focused on a theme, such as depression or eating disorders, and archived videos and materials for self-help. Your Counseling Center will make every effort to provide the type of intervention that best suits your needs and comfort level.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Therapy and support at Counseling Centers are often free and part of a student health fee included with tuition. There may be a small fee if you decide to continue long term or if it isn’t covered by tuition. Therapy is confidential and does not become part of your educational record, and nobody outside the Counseling Center will ever know that you visited them or received support. It is completely private, just like when you visit your doctor at home.

Learning how to contact your campus Counseling Center before you, or someone you care about, needs help is a worthwhile exercise. The people working there will be able to answer questions and provide support in a setting that is private and empowering. You might never need their service, but if you do it is nice to know a little bit about what to expect.

References

Lee, J., Jeong, H.J., & Kim, S. (2021). Stress, anxiety, and depression among undergraduate students during the

COVID-19 pandemic and their use of mental health services. Innovative Higher Education 46, 519–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-021-09552-y Lipson S. K., Zhou, S., Abelson, S., Heinze, J., Jirsa, M., Morigney, J., Patterson, A., Singh, M., & Eisenberg, D. (2022).

Trends in college student mental health and help-seeking by race/ethnicity: Findings from the national healthy minds study, 2013-2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 1(306), 138-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.038.

Ronald A. Stolberg, PhD, is a professor and associate program director for the Clinical PsyD doctoral program at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Diego. In addition, he maintains a private practice focusing on family therapy with adolescents and young adults. His favorite work is helping students and their families with the transition from high school to college.

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