Person standing on a mountain peak
As summarized in last week’s report on Forbes.comThere is real challenges that the field of college mental health will likely face in 2025. However, the field is well-positioned to meet these challenges. In fact, 2025 could accelerate the unique opportunities that mental health offers in colleges, including being a high priority for the post-pandemic generation of students, benefiting from greater recognition as a benefit to society, freedom from certain political conflicts and increased investment. from university administrators.
Mental health as a priority for the post-pandemic generation
A 2024 report on Forbes.com explained how the Class of 2028 is the first university cohort who experienced the global pandemic during the formative years of early adolescence. While it is too early to determine how different this cohort will be from previous generations of college students, there is evidence that providing mental health support to the post-pandemic generation of students is a priority. A 2024 report on NewAmerica.organ online think tank on various policies in the United States, found that nearly eight in ten Americans currently believe that college students need mental health support services of their schools. The 2024 Gallup-Lumina Report on the State of Higher Education reported that emotional stress and personal mental health issues are the top two reasons current students drop out of college, and these reasons rank at a percentage more than twice as high as financial costs.
This high priority opens the door for college mental health professionals to discuss the expansion of campus mental health services, experience less stigma from students regarding seeking counseling, and generate opportunities to present mental health services while recruiting prospective students. Additionally, due to impending enrollment declines and fewer college-age youth currently living on the planet, there is great interest in support services that increase student retention. According to a study carried out in 2024 in the College Student Mental Health JournalAbout two-thirds of campus counseling center clients reported that counseling services helped them stay enrolled in school.
Greater recognition that mental health in colleges can benefit society
Another 2024 report on Forbes.com indicated that the value of mental health in college remains high even as public confidence in higher education declines. Traditionally, university mental health services were designed to provide limited or short-term counseling services. Like many campus health centers, most student counseling centers focused on providing support services for acute and developmental needs, and students in need of long-term/specialized services were referred to an off-campus provider. This structure is consistent with the traditional mindset that colleges and universities are institutions of higher education, not processing communities.
However, it is increasingly recognized that campus counseling centers have unprecedented access to the vital demographic of individuals aged 18-25. Additionally, most college campuses have plug-and-play facilities, modern technology, and infrastructure already in place that no other health care system in America has. . Thus, it is recognized that mental health in universities can play an important role in reducing the mental health epidemic in America. As described in a 2024 report on Forbes.commany schools are developing new models of on-campus advisingwhich includes working with treatment providers to offer specialized programs on campus. These new models have the potential to treat more people at lower cost than traditional models, which is important according to a 2024 report from US News & World Report indicates that mental illness costs America dearly approximately $282 billion per year.
Be exempt from certain political conflicts
A 2024 report from The United States today showed that many Americans feel desperate over polarization and growing divisions among politicians. One way that political conflict is affecting higher education is the recent trend of state legislators passing bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Unfortunately, many DEI bans include confusing language, such as prohibiting any campus office from providing differential treatment to students. However, the intent of politicians when they use the term differential treatment is very different from how medical providers use the term. In fact, the Association of Directors of University and College Counseling Centers (of which I am a board member) issued a press release regarding health care provider concerns about many DEI bans. This message seems to resonate. States that adopted DEI bans in 2024 include Alabama, Iowa, and Utah, all of which included special exemptions/considerations for health care providers. Representatives from other states, such as Texas, plan to introduce such exemptions in upcoming legislative sessions.
Increased investments by university administrators
Last week’s report also explained how campus counseling centers must compete with the attractions of private practice and that many staff therapists can earn more money and control their own workload and schedules by leaving the land. Fortunately, it appears that university administrators are taking note. The 2023 Director’s Poll of AUCCCD reported that 59.8% of responding principals reported that all or some of their staff received salary increases outside of cost of living adjustments.
Collegiate Mental Health is a leading healthcare system in the world. College students are a vital demographic, most other healthcare systems cannot match the access and infrastructure of higher education, the work done by college healthcare providers is respected by both parties policies and many universities are now finding ways to retain and recruit talent. Despite the challenges that lie ahead in 2025, there are many reasons to be optimistic.