{"id":23064,"date":"2025-03-23T17:58:44","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T21:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/?p=23064"},"modified":"2025-03-23T18:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T22:02:15","slug":"tested-college-students-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/desis.osu.edu\/seniorthesis\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/tested-college-students-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Tested: College Students and Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why are college students struggling with mental health?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of factors contributing to the proliferation of mental health issues on college campuses. In some ways, the biggest issue is also the most obvious, according to Dr. Albers. \u201cThe primary issue is that the number of students that are entering college that have mental health issues is greater than the resources available to help them,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a silver lining to that particular cloud. There was a time in the United States where individuals living with mental health or cognitive issues weren\u2019t considered \u201ccollege material.\u201d The system we have today is under-resourced, in part, because higher education is accessible to a broader range of students than it used to be<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another silver lining: The stigma around mental health is slowly diminishing. More students are using campus resources like disability services, counseling and support groups. And it\u2019s increasingly common to talk about emotional health concerns with friends, professors and staff. In other words, the mental health crisis in higher education is easier to see now, because of this generation\u2019s willingness to speak up and get help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, that\u2019s just one facet of the situation. There are a lot of reasons college students are struggling. Dr. Albers highlights the following issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many students start their higher education journey while still going through the physical and developmental changes that come with puberty<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s a common time for mental health issues to either occur for the first time or be exacerbated<\/a> due to all the transition,\u201d Dr. Albers notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic pressure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of what higher ed path a student takes, their ability to pursue a career in their chosen field may hinge, in part, on their academic performance. And for many students, transitioning to college-level coursework can take time, and some not-so-great grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Financial stress<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the United States, higher education isn\u2019t free \u2014 in fact, it\u2019s prohibitively expensive for most people. While many people take out student loans to relieve some of the financial pressure, most still have to work at least part time to make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even that\u2019s often not enough. While rarely discussed, housing and food insecurity<\/a>are such common problems on college campuses that many now have food pantries on site. And, of course, those student loans have to be paid back, whether you leave with a degree or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even students who aren\u2019t paying for their own education can feel pressure to make sure the people or organizations investing in them \u201cget their money\u2019s worth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear of the future<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Albers notes that even the most self-assured individual will likely face anxiety about their future in college. Fear of making the wrong decision can be paralyzing<\/a> under the best of circumstances \u2026 and many students aren\u2019t in the best of circumstances. They\u2019re overtired<\/a>, overworked and under stress<\/a>. This can all lead to what is known as \u201ccatastrophic thinking.\u201d This is a thought or worry that spirals quickly into the worst case scenario. For example, \u201cIf I don\u2019t get a good grade in this class, I wont graduate with honors, I will never get a job and I will end up homeless.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness and changing support structures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

College is a time when the support structures you\u2019ve relied on all your life may become a bit more remote. Being away from parents<\/a>, mentors, therapists, churches and high school friends can leave you feeling disconnected from your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Dr. Albers puts it, \u201cYou have people and relationships that help you during times of transition and mental health issues. And those can become lost or fragmented when you go to college.\u201d The sense of dislocation can be especially acute for students from marginalized groups, international students, veterans, parents, part-time students and commuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Physical health concerns<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s probably fair to say that, as a population, undergrads tend not to be the healthiest bunch of people on the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDiet, exercise and sleep often fall low on the priority list,\u201d Dr. Albers says. \u201cStudents feel like they don\u2019t have time for them. But those three things are the cornerstones of mental health.\u201d When you add stress to the equation, she adds that, \u201cIt\u2019s like pulling the rug out from underneath someone who\u2019s already struggling to stay balanced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substance use and abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSubstance use can exacerbate or trigger mental health issues,\u201d Dr. Albers states. You don\u2019t have to have a substance use disorder<\/a> (SUD) for substance use to impact your mental health. That said, there\u2019s a clear relationship between dependency and mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health<\/a> explains the relationship this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n