Study: College Student Mental Health on the Rise for 2nd Consecutive Year

• In 2021-2022, a record 44% of college students reported depressive symptoms, according to the annual Healthy Minds study conducted by researchers from four major universities.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, depressive and anxious symptoms skyrocketed, but mental health has slowly increased since restrictions have loosened and life has returned to normal.
• Life circumstances like food, housing, and financial insecurity can impact college student mental health.

A new study found that college students show fewer depressive symptoms and more positive mental health for the second year in a row.

The annual Healthy Minds study, conducted by researchers from four major universities, found that 38% of college students experienced moderate or severe depressive symptoms. Students with depressive symptoms steadily increased from 20% in 2015 to 39% in fall 2020. It then spiked to 44% for the 2021-2022 academic year.

While many factors could play into what seems to be a positive trend, BestColleges found that the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted college students' mental health. In spring 2022, most states lifted their mask mandates. Around a year later, in 2023, the World Health Organization ended the COVID-19 pandemic's public health emergency designation. As COVID restrictions rose, so did students' mental health.

Student Mental Health Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic skyrocketed feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety among college students. A BestColleges survey from April 2020 found that almost half of students were worried about staying enrolled in college, and that worry disproportionately affected respondents identifying as Black, Hispanic, or other.

A year later, BestColleges found that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted almost every student's mental health. Over 90% of students reported negative mental health symptoms, and almost half struggled with isolation, anxiety, and a lack of focus.

The COVID-19 pandemic led colleges and universities to implement mental health days during the semester to ease stress. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Education gave billions in relief aid to higher education institutions and urged them to use it for mental health services.

As the pandemic went on, vaccines became more readily available.

Since increased vaccine availability and the steady return to in-person classes and extracurricular activities, mental health has steadily risen. According to the National Institutes of Health, people who received the COVID-19 vaccine experienced mental health improvements.

Food, Housing, and Financial Insecurity Impacts College Student Mental Health

The pandemic is far from the only factor impacting students' mental health. College students face other challenges, including food insecurity, housing security, and monetary pressures like inflation.

BestColleges found that 23% of students were food insecure in 2020, and those who were food insecure were less likely to earn bachelor's degrees than those who weren't (21% vs. 36%).

In 2020, California State University researchers found that college students who were food insecure were more likely to report symptoms of psychological distress.

Students are also feeling the effects of inflation. Two-thirds of students surveyed by BestColleges reported that inflation had an impact on their financial well-being. Inflation is also affecting students' mental well-being; 60% said inflation over the past couple of years has impacted their mental health, and over half said it impacted educational choices, like what major to pursue.

Now, students' mental health isn't only healing — it's thriving.

The Healthy Minds study measured students' "positive mental health," or student's self-perceived success in areas like relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. The 2023-2024 study found 38% of students have positive mental health, up 2% from 2022-2023 and up 6% from 2021-2022.