The Hill points to statistics published by the University of Michigan that rank suicide as the second-leading cause of death for college students nationwide. Approximately 1,100 suicides occur on college campuses every year. Nearly 40% of the university’s own students have either “thought about or considered” it, meaning that mental health in colleges remains a pressing issue.

Schools realize this problem. Six surveys by the American Council on Education going back to the start of the pandemic found student mental health to be a “pressing issue” and, last year, over 70% of university presidents cited it as their most important concern. The problem lies in how colleges respond to this crisis and the solution lies in improved approaches. The Washington Post found that suicidal students at Yale University “are pressured to withdraw.” And those seeking readmittance must reapply and show that they’ve received proper mental health care during their time away. Kevin Shollenberger, the vice provost for student health and well-being at Johns Hopkins University, disagrees, saying, “it really has to be everyone’s responsibility at the university to create a culture of well-being.”

APA finds that this type of thinking continues to be helpful when dealing with mental health. Many school leaders have begun to start to think innovatively about how to help and institutions across the country “are embracing approaches such as group therapy, peer counseling, and a broader culture of wellness into their policies, systems, and day-to-day campus life.” Shollenberger finds that “this increase in demand has challenged institutions to think holistically and take a multifaceted approach to support students.” For the many different causes of mental health problems, APA finds that colleges can provide many different forms of help. When dealing with academic demands, colleges can provide workshops on stress, sleep, time management, and goal-setting, while when dealing with adjustment issues, peer counseling can be a valid form of help. As always, students with acute concerns, such as issues that deal with eating, trauma, or depression, should be able to access one-on-one sessions with professional counsel.

According to The Washington Post , the time to evaluate mental health should begin when symptoms interfere with day-to-day life. Even if it “is not uncommon for college students to struggle with” mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, students should be look for help when functioning becomes difficult. By talking with a counselor, advisor, or other campus professionals, students can get an understanding of their school’s medical policy, and other policies concerning tuition, insurance plans, scholarships, student loans, and how a transcript may or may not be affected. Finally, students should rest and choose a lighter load of work when coming back, continuing healthy habits along the way.