Coronavirus and the Student Mental Health Crisis

Reviewed by Rayelle Davis, M.S.Ed., NCC, LCPC

Both college students and colleges have spent the past year in limbo. The majority of U.S. colleges reopened last fall, at least partially, but campus life — with its events, activities, resources, and support networks — has remained at a halt.

Even as COVID-19’s physical health risk bypasses college-aged individuals, their mental health continues to be acutely impacted by the pandemic. According to a new BestColleges.com survey, 95% of college students have experienced negative mental health symptoms due to the pandemic.

National surveys from the past year reveal dramatic increases in stress and anxiety among college students. Research from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of California, San Diego, found that students’ risk of clinical depression doubled since the start of the pandemic. In a Boston University study of 33,000 undergraduates, 83% said worsened mental health had negatively impacted their academics.

Source: Journal of Adolescent Health

Studies show that rates of anxiety, depression, stress, and suicidal thoughts among college students have risen significantly over the past three decades — and continue to rise. Between the early ’90s and early ’00s, the American College Health Association tracked a 42% increase in college students’ use of counseling centers. In the last five years, the number of students receiving mental health treatment at the largest state universities grew 35%, while enrollment grew just 5%.

A nationwide study published by the Journal of Adolescent Health found that rates of moderate to severe anxiety and depression among U.S. college students rose equally substantially over just the last few years — from around 18% and 23%, to 34% and 41%, respectively.

College students, an increasingly vulnerable population when it comes to mental health, now face even greater risk.

College students are dealing with the mental health fallout of studying, working, and socializing almost entirely online. Recent surveys by BestColleges.com found that students are suffering from a lack of social interactions with their peers and professors, and a surplus of screen time. More than 9 in 10 students expect the educational shifts to impact them for life.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill similarly found that the year’s mental health crisis among college students is associated with distanced learning and social isolation more than any other stressor, including fears over COVID-19.

To cope with the pandemic way of life, many college students say they are centering self-care, but negative behaviors are on the rise as well. Around 40% of students report eating worse and working out less this year.

These negative habits worsen depression symptoms and could be driving the accelerated mental health crisis on college campuses. Declines in physical activity alone are a leading risk factor for depression. Between disrupted sleep and sedentary days, students are having a hard time concentrating, managing their time, and keeping up momentum to graduate.

Like professors and administrators, school mental health practitioners may not be on campus, but many are still at work. Most campus clinics, as well as college faith programs, offer telehealth mental services. (Some college counseling centers are prohibited from offering remote appointments by state licensing boards.)

While students dealing with too much technology may be dissatisfied with a virtual visit, for now college students can try to manage their mental health by tapping into online college health resources.

Students who are feeling extra stress should take advantage of the counseling available to them, whether they’re on or off campus. If money is a concern, check with the financial aid office to ensure you’re receiving all the federal relief available to you.

Federal accommodations for college students during the pandemic include temporary student debt relief and, for independent students, stimulus checks. Colleges have also been directed to distribute half of their emergency funding directly to students as grants.

Editor’s Note: This article contains general information and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a professional advisor before making decisions about health-related issues.

Feature Image: d3sign / Moment / Getty Images