Challenges of College Life: Mental Health Perspectives and Solutions

As the world is still recovering from the toll that COVID-19 took on society, the aftereffects of the lockdown can still be felt all around. As time goes by, many studies conclude that the severity and commonality of mental health issues worsen every year. In fact, up to one in five adults now suffer from problems regarding their mental health. 

How is this affecting college students?

The issue of college students facing mental health issues is not solely caused by the 2020 pandemic. Even before the world shut down a disparaging amount of college students had been facing mental health issues. 35.7% of students reported struggling with feelings of depression in 2019. 

However, it seems as if the pandemic along with the shutdown of daily life has caused a dramatic increase in the percentage of students who deal with mental health issues. A national study conducted that in 2020-2021 over 60% of students reported being affected by some level of a mental health issue. 

Dr. Justin Jacques, who has worked as a counselor educator, professional counselor, and mental health coach in addition to his work at many university counseling centers throughout the country, believes that there are a plethora of ways in which the pandemic has affected students. 

Jacques notes “Several college students had to put aside their emotions to deal with academic challenges, family challenges, and work challenges during the pandemic…A lot of college students, they got out of their routines, which was very helpful for their mental health, and therefore a lot of them are having attention and concentration issues now. Also, the isolation that many college students felt and the increase in social media, video games, and YouTube were not helpful for their mental health as they were not using their ‘connection’ muscles and all that media with quick dopamine hits caused a lot of media related addition, especially if mental health and lack of connection were worsening.” 

What are the possible causes of the increase in students needing mental health help?

It may seem obvious, but many college students struggle with the transition from high school and living with their parents to becoming independent college students. Not only are many new adults immediately forced into a brand new environment, often far from home, but they’re also thrown into more rigorous coursework with a whole new schedule. Such a drastic change can definitely cause many new struggles and insecurities to arise in new students who may have been doing perfectly fine at home. 

Are universities properly equipped to handle students’ needs?

Without a doubt, many universities are not able to properly handle the amount of students seeking counseling and further help with their mental health needs. Yet, it is important to note that it may also simply be impossible for a university to hire enough staff to adequately handle the caseload. While many major universities have the resources to fulfill that.

Jacques also brings up the idea that the proper handling of these issues may also need to come through sources outside of the direct counseling center, saying “We need to empower the university community to connect with students. Administrators, professors, coaches, and staff can all be supportive of students. We really have gotten to a place where mental health is seen only for therapists and while other folks are not therapists, many people including clergy can be therapeutic.”

Is there any hope for students in the future?

While it is not possible to know to what extent this issue will resolve itself, if ever, there are still ways for students to find help that don’t get as noticed.

Regarding students currently enrolled in university and struggling to manage their mental health issues, Jacques has some great advice, “I think you have to be persistent with your university and advocate for yourself or find advocates that can help you navigate the system. You really need to find out what works for you and what your university offers. Not everyone loves hour-long talk therapy and there are so many new modalities being developed that may be helpful. So don’t be afraid to try a few new things.”

In conclusion 

Currently, there is an increase in the number of students who are severely struggling with being thrown into college life head first, while trying to properly manage their mental health. As a result, colleges and universities need to focus harder on finding the source of many of these students’ issues, and ways to resolve them that should stem from not only the counseling office but the entire campus itself. This issue will not resolve itself until universities truly make an initiative to properly manage them through proactive measures. Simply allocating more time and budget to hiring well-equipped healthcare professionals, will positively impact young adults and the plethora of issues they struggle with daily.