In the wake of the COVID pandemic, the prevalence of college students’ mental health struggles has reached crisis levels. For instance, students’ stress levels as reported by the American College Health Association in 2023 were equivalent to those of returning-combat troops.
“College Student Mental Health in the Post-COVID Era: Education and Workforce-Aligned Solutions Needed in New England,” a new policy brief co-authored by Grace Moore, Policy & Research student intern, and Rachael Conway, policy analyst, proposes seven policy recommendations for higher education and government leaders to address this challenge.
Highlights of the brief:
- The American College Health Association’s (ACHA) 2023 national survey of over 18,000 undergraduate students found that 23% of undergraduates were experiencing serious psychological distress, 28% screened positively for suicidal ideation or behavior, 53% were experiencing loneliness, and 79% experienced moderate or severe stress in the past 30 days (American College Health Association, 2023).
- Students of color experience mental health challenges at disproportionate rates, particularly among Native American and Pacific Islander students.
- The mental health provider field—both nationally and in New England—lacks diversity. The majority of providers (75% nationally and 79% in New England) identify as White women.
- Higher education and government leaders can work in concert to address the mental health crisis through an equity lens by taking a three-pronged approach that includes recruitment and retention of new, diverse talent into the mental health field; support for the current mental health workforce; and bolstering the capacity of on-campus mental health support systems.