The COVID-19 pandemic has been a trying and isolating time for university students. But even with educational institutions returning to in-person learning, we can still see the toll the pandemic took on our mental health hanging over campuses around the world. One recent survey showed that for the 2020-21 school year, more than 60 percent of students qualify for having at least one mental health problem.
But mental health was an issue on college campuses long before we’d ever heard of COVID-19, says Donna Sheperis, Ph.D., a professor at Palo Alto University and head of its eClinic.
“More often than not, college students are going to experience significant anxiety and or significant depression just because of the college experience and the stage of life,” she says.
Unfortunately, she says students can often experience long wait times and other practical hurdles if they try to seek assistance. And while it’s understandable to want to personally help a friend who you believe is struggling with their mental health, there is a limit to what you can do to help. In other words, mental health problems should be treated by licensed professionals. So, what are the best ways to help others — and yourself — on campus?
Research services prior to attending
Especially if you have had mental health struggles, experts recommend that you research your college’s resources before getting to campus. That way, you will be prepared and can hit the ground running with preemptive treatment plans.
Reach out to faculty
Nance Roy, a chief clinical officer at The Jed Foundation, an organization that promotes mental health for teens and young adults, suggests reaching out to a favorite faculty member during a crisis.
“Oftentimes, we find that students feel more comfortable reaching out to some sort of a trusted adult in their community,” Roy says.
Visit the campus counseling center
College counseling centers offer free sessions with therapists trained to address a range of issues students face. You can book an appointment online and also peruse the center’s resources. For instance, some college counseling centers may offer alternative treatments like acupuncture.
Student support groups
Sheperis notes that since it might be difficult to book individual therapy at a college counseling center, you should be prepared to look into other on-campus resources, specifically support groups. Student-led organizations often offer support groups for all sorts of mental health issues, including time management, disordered eating and trauma.
Teletherapy
Sheperis and Roy say telemedicine and teletherapy are tools colleges are increasingly offering to students — particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Roy says young people particularly are drawn to these platforms because of their seamlessness, flexibility and discretion.
“It’s convenient. They don’t have to go anywhere,” Roy says. “They can talk to someone in the privacy of their room. These platforms can have a wide array of clinicians with varied backgrounds so that you could match with a clinician, perhaps that shares your identity in one way, shape or form.”
Look for a hotline
Roy says college students can also text the Crisis Text Line if they’re struggling, and Sheperis recommends the newly rolled-out 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline. She stresses that, unlike 911, police won’t come to your door if you express intentions for self-harm
“It is a literal crisis hotline for support to talk to somebody if they think that life is not worth living or you're not sure how you're going to get through the night,” she says.
She adds that there are specific hotlines for LGBTQ+ people to address their concerns.
“We see suicide rates higher in the LGBTQ+ population,” she notes. “The strain and stress of college is hard enough. The strain and stress of college when you're queer and trying to work and operate in a fairly heteronormative system is astronomical.”
She adds that BIPOC students should also be able to find specifically tailored resources.
Integrating a wellness routine
Experts encourage students to actively tend to their mental health and work proactively on preventative measures, so they don’t reach a breaking point of feeling overwhelmed. Preventative self-care could include everything from therapy to meditation to regular exercise.
“Yes, I believe in in-person therapy. I practice it. I love it,” says Sheperis. “But just like the gym, you can't just go once a week. You have to do stuff every day to really maintain your mental health.”
Says Roy: “Don’t wait until something has spiraled to a crisis point or to a point where it’s really impacting your daily functioning.”