What Percent of College Students Have a Mental Illness?
It is often said that college is one of the most fun phases of life. But how much of that is true in today’s context? College students are certainly not having a happy life. In fact, a look at college student mental health statistics show that they are one of the groups that are more severely struck by mental health issues. A large number of college students experience serious mental issues including ADHD, depression, and suicidal tendencies.
Active Minds, a premiere Not-For-Profit organization that works for improving mental health and awareness about it among college students states that 39% of college students experience at least one significant mental health issue. There is a great volume of literature and studies which substantiate the fact that mental illness among college students is a major cause of concern. Reuters reported that between 2007-2018, the incidence of depression, suicidal thinking, and self-injury among US college students has doubled. These studies also highlight the fact that such issues continue to be on the rise.
With the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought in a number of restrictions to daily life and added a great deal of uncertainty for students, the incidence of mental illness is set to see a further spike.
General College Student Mental Health Statistics – 2020
College student health statistics reveal a need for significant concern and rapid action. The numbers are quite disturbing, and they are showing considerable growth as well.
- Depression impedes the normal functioning of 45.1% of the students
- Depression rates for college students doubled over the past decade
Overwhelming levels of anxiety is experienced by almost 66% of college students - Non-traditional learners and sexual minorities are at a greater risk of mental health issues during college
- Suicide is the second-most common reason for death among college students
- 80% of college students experience considerable amounts of stress
- More than 50% of college students find academics traumatic
College Student Mental Health Statistics
The percent of college students with mental illness has witnessed an ever-increasing graph over the years. Anxiety and depression continue to be the most prevalent mental health issues among students. The number of students indulging in self-harm or seriously contemplating suicide is also significantly high. 1 in 4 college students suffers from a mental illness. Data sourced by different agencies point to the fact that we need to focus considerably on combating this menace on a war footing.
1. Mental health indicators have worsened during 2007-2018.
A study by Reuters revealed a general worsening of mental health issues relating to anxiety, depression, and other causes during 2007-2018. Suicide attempts rose from 0.7% to 1.8%, while the incidences of severe depression rose from 9.4% to 21.1%.
2. Lifetime diagnoses and treatment numbers increase.
The number of college students in the US with lifetime diagnoses related to mental health issues rose from 22% in 2007 to 36% in 2017. The percentage of those accessing treatment rose from 19% to 34% during the same period.
Depression in College Students Statistics
Mental health college statistics make it evident that depression is one of the most common and fatal mental illnesses. It is characterized by sadness and anxious feelings. College students show a high incidence of this illness. The American College Health Association (ACHA) finds depression and anxiety to be the leading hindrances affecting academic performance. Apart from its negative effect on academic performance, depression also puts you at a greater risk of substance abuse and suicidal thinking. Depression has always been on the rise among college students. College is also the time when many people experience depression for the first time. A more disturbing fact is that a large number of students do not get medical help to deal with depression.
3. More than a quarter of college students are diagnosed with depression.
Mental illness statistics of college students show that about 27% of college students in the US are diagnosed with depression. But the actual number of students with depression can be more as a large number of students might not even realize it or get medical help.
4. Students admit that depression affects their normal functioning.
Many students do realize it when depression takes a toll on their lives. A 2019 report published by the ACHA points out that 45.1% of students admitted that depression was hampering their normal functioning.
5. The rate of depression among college students has doubled.
A study by a group of researchers from two universities shows that as of 2018-19, the percentage of college students with depression doubled in the past decade. This points to the heightened stress levels across college campuses today.
Anxiety in College Students Statistics
6. Almost 66% of students experience harmful levels of anxiety.
Data from the ACHA shows that 65.7% of college students admitted to having experienced ‘overwhelming anxiety’. This is a major rise from the numbers that were witnessed a decade ago.
7. The rate of anxiety has doubled.
Academic research shows that the rate of anxiety among college students has doubled over the past decade. This trend is similar to the one witnessed with the incidence of depression.
Suicide Among College Students Statistics
8. Second biggest killer.
Today, suicide is the second-most leading cause of death among college students. The incidents of suicide in college students and young adults have increased in the decades gone by. For the latter, the suicide rate has tripled over the past 70 years.
9. More than 13% of students experience suicidal thoughts.
Data from 2019 reveals that about 13.3% of students seriously considered ending their lives over the preceding 12 months. About 2% went as far as attempting to end their lives.
Demographics of Mental Illness in College
10. Sexual minorities face higher risks of self-harm and suicide.
About two-thirds of transgender students indulge in self-injury. In the case of bisexual students, this number is more than 50%. More than one-third of transgender students and more than a quarter of bisexual students attempt suicide.
11. 3 out of 4 college students committing suicides is a male.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that about 75% of college students who are victims of suicide turn out to be male. This points to the fact that women students are comparatively better off dealing with suicidal thoughts and related mental illnesses.
12. Non-traditional learners at a higher risk.
African-American students, as well as other non-traditional learners, are at a greater risk of facing mental illnesses while in college. The dropout rates among these sections are also higher. Lack of access to support systems is one of the major hurdles for this category of students.
Mental Health Issues Are Prevalent on College Campuses
Academic studies and data have been consistently showing for a while that campuses are immensely prone to mental health-related issues. College students are prone to several mental ailments with deadly consequences. The numbers keep on rising as well. As such, campuses that are primarily centers of education are needing to focus on mental healthcare and related facilities. Taking cognizance of the heavy prevalence of mental health issues in colleges and universities, authorities and these institutions themselves have been trying to devise methods to combat these issues. But the statistics tell us that efforts need to be further scaled up to bring down the high incidents of mental ailments on campuses.
13. 80% of students feel stress.
Studies show that about 4 out of 5 college students in the US admit that they experience stress daily. There is a significant correlation between stress and the mental health of college students. Heightened stress levels induce many other mental health issues.
14. Depression and Anxiety.
13% of college students get diagnosed with anxiety-related ailments. 13% of college students admit to having experienced depression as well. These two are the health issues that are most prevalent on college campuses.
Effect of Mental Illness on Academic Success
15. Academics is traumatic for more than 50% of students.
Studies show that 50.2% of college students find academics traumatic or too difficult. This can be understood as an extension of the increased prevalence of mental health issues on campuses. Female students were more prone to finding academics traumatic than males.
16. Depression and anxiety affect academics.
Numbers from 2017 show that 16% of college students admitted to depression affecting their academic performance. For 24% of college students, anxiety affected their academic performance.
Are College Students Seeking Help?
Conventionally, there has been a stigma associated with mental health issues. As a result of this, people across age groups tended to opt against going for medical help. Even today, that tendency persists to a certain extent. However, several changes are also visible. Many universities have also stepped up the game and set up at least some mental healthcare infrastructure on campus. Despite the shortcomings, they have contributed to an increase in the number of students seeking help for mental illnesses. On-campus counseling centers are indeed seeing an increase in the number of students who are reaching out to them. But the statistics show that although there is progress, the numbers are not yet satisfactory.
17. About 50% of students reported that their college didn’t know about their mental illness.
College student mental health statistics reveal that almost 3 in 4 students experienced a mental health crisis while on campus. However, about 34% show that their institution did not know about their mental health issues.
18. The number of students seeking medical help is increasing exponentially.
A Penn University report from 2019 offers some good news. It reports that the number of students who self-reported cases of anxiety and depression have increased over the previous 8 years.
How Effective Are Campus-based Mental Health Services?
Efforts have indeed been made to combat mental health issues on campuses. Campus-based initiatives can do a lot to improve student mental health. But there is a common refrain about on-campus centers feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage the demand they experience from students. The fact that in many cases, students end up having to wait long periods to get appointments with counselors is a matter of grave concern.
19. Rising demand but slow growth.
Between 2014 and 2019, there was a 35% increase in the number of students reaching out for help with mental illnesses. However, the increase in the number of counselors on campus on average was below 19% during the same period.
20. Most campuses do not meet the benchmark.
Industry experts state that campuses require a counselor to student ratio of 1:1500. Thus, the benchmark is not adhered to, and in some Universities, the numbers are as low as just one counselor for 4,000 students.
Most Common Mental Health Challenges Faced by Students
A more committed analysis of the mental health facts of college students is long overdue. The numbers point to deep-seated issues that require urgent redressal.
21. More than half experience anxiety.
As much as 3 out of 5 college students admit that they face overwhelming anxiety. This extremely high number is a cause of concern and a major piece of evidence about how stressful campuses are at the moment.
22. Depression is a major concern.
A 2019 report by the Pennsylvania State University identifies depression as continuing to be one of the primary mental health challenges on college campuses. However, the growth in depression rates was reported to have slowed over the previous year.
23. Eating disorders among female students.
A high prevalence of eating disorders is found among female students. Around 25% are prone to the threat of ‘binge and purge’ as part of the efforts to manage body weight. In a more general manner, about 91% of female students follow unhealthy diets to control their body weight.
Conclusion
An objective analysis with the help of credible statistics shows that there is a significant correlation between mental illness and college life. The numbers, for the most part, show a steady increase. Depression and anxiety continue to be the most significant mental health issues among college students. It is indeed a positive sign that more students are reaching out for medical help to combat these issues. Universities have scaled up resources to provide on-campus mental health solutions.
However, these facilities prove to be grossly inadequate to meet the rising demand. Students end up having to wait for weeks to get an appointment with on-campus counselors. More attention and investment is required on the matter of mental health among college students.
Frequently asked questions
What percent of college students have stress?
The mental health statistics of college students point to the fact that around 80% of students experience stress while in college. Almost 50% of college students report that they experience more than average levels of stress. Several factors contribute to this high incidence of stress. Two of the prominent reasons are financial issues and academics. Excess amounts of stress can have a debilitating effect on the life of students. In addition to harming academics, it can lead to many other mental health issues as well.
How do college students deal with mental illness?
The stigma associated with mental illnesses has weakened considerably over the past few decades. There has been an increase in awareness of mental health issues. Consequently, there has been an increase in the number of college students seeking medical help for such issues. The overwhelming nature of on-campus counseling centers due to the demand from students for such services is an indicator that more students are seeking help. However, this increase in numbers does not mean that all students who experience mental health issues are going in for help. The greater share of students who experience mental health issues continues to opt against seeking medical help. Some do not even recognize the fact that they are affected by such issues.
Can school stress cause mental illness?
Students’ mental health statistics show that stress is one of the major drivers of mental illnesses. School stress pushes a large number of college students into mental health issues. About 80% of college students experience at least an average amount of stress. High-stress levels are one of the most common reasons for mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Stress can quite accurately be termed as the root cause of many mental health issues. As such, effective stress management practices must be incorporated on campuses. If not given proper medical attention, stress can have far-reaching implications that persist throughout an individual’s lifetime and deteriorates the general quality of life.
How does anxiety affect college students?
College student mental health statistics reveal that anxiety is the most common mental illness among college students. There are many different forms of anxiety which include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), panic disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), etc. Like depression, anxiety can also lead to more harmful consequences, including suicide. It can affect academic performance and even interfere with one’s social interactions. If not treated, anxiety can have lifelong implications and reduce the general quality of the individual’s life. Academic data shows that over the past eight years, there has been a slowdown in the growth of anxiety among college students. However, it continues to a significant issue with fatal consequences.
