College student mental health: current trends and implications for higher education

Abstract

This chapter examines mental health symptoms and treatment utilization among college and university students in the United States. It draws from a socio-ecological framework and uses findings from national data as a vantage point to explore different factors associated with mental health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Three overarching findings are highlighted, each of which implies a set of future priorities. First, campuses need to consider to the adequacy of current approaches in supporting student mental health, especially for underserved populations, as the prevalence of mental health symptoms continues to rise. Second, mental health is interconnected with various aspects of student wellbeing and campuses should carefully consider how to integrate current programs to support mental health across ecological domains. Third, the pandemic has exacerbated college students' known mental health risk factors and underscored how the student college experience and engagement in university life are fundamental to their well-being and success.