The Cause of the College Mental Health Crisis

Lilly Trow ‘29

Contributing Writer

College has always been a place where students learn, work towards their goals, and make friends for life. As amazing as this experience can be, many students struggle, sometimes alone. In recent years, there has been more funding than ever before being allotted to studies that research the well-being of students on campuses all over the world. The findings have been alarming, showing an influx in the commonality of mental health disorders among this age group. It raises the question of why this is happening and what can be done to help these students. In previous years, many of these issues were not being discussed, and therefore, no progress was being made. In 2025, there has been a shift, one that will hopefully lead to more progress in this conversation that can provide real answers for those struggling

Data from the years 2017 to 2023 were collected by the World Mental Health International College Student Initiative, which aimed to show how prevalent some DSM-5 markers were in college students. They were looking for the prevalence of alcohol abuse, ADHD, drug usage, major depressive disorder, PTSD, generalized anxiety, and panic disorders. The study took data from 72,288 students from 77 universities across 18 countries. The data found that 65.2% of students showed signs of lifelong mental disorders, 57.4% with positive screening for 12-month-long disorders. The conclusion of this article states that, “[a]lthough prevalence might have been overestimated due to the low response rate and possible screening scale miscalibration, results nonetheless suggest that mental disorders are highly prevalent among first-year university students worldwide.”  

And why is this conversation so important? Because it impacts all of us. The mental health of the individual impacts the mental health of the collective. Here at Trinity, a space that excels in academic rigor, it is important for us as students to be aware of our well-being and be educated to help our friends around us when they need it. Since loneliness is one of the main driving points of the mental health crisis, it can take one person’s friendliness to help the well-being of a fellow student. As straightforward as that might seem, many are unaware of the crisis, and in turn, they do not know how to navigate these difficult topics.

Even given the alarming number of cases within the college space, there is still little discussion on why this is truly happening. Although many colleges have implemented their own techniques in helping students with pre-existing conditions and those that arise while they are attending, the question still stands. There is not enough being done to prevent these cases from rising, and a simple discussion will not get to the root of the issue.

There are many factors that are being floated around online, hoping to come up with an explanation. It is impossible to say what is causing this rise, but more importantly, discussing these findings and helping those attending colleges get the help they need, even here at Trinity, is critical. The most popular answers to this problem have been loneliness, social media usage, and academic pressure. It can be inferred that a mix of these variables can raise the likelihood of someone developing a mental illness found within the DSM-5 manual.

In recent years, faculty within college institutions have been trained to see the warning signs: “Faculty are taught that a sudden change in behavior—including a drop in attendance, failure to submit assignments, or a disheveled appearance—may indicate that a student is struggling,” the American Psychological Association wrote. This is important since this effort can stop a mental health issue from progressing, especially in students with less of a support system within this fast-moving environment.

Even with the rise of certain conditions, stigma surrounding these issues on many college campuses has declined: “Stigma around mental health issues also continues to drop, leading more people to seek help instead of suffering in silence,” the American Psychological Association wrote. Colleges nationwide typically offer mental health programming with the knowledge that cases of depression and anxiety are on the rise. They have also continuously worked to provide education to stop stigma around these issues.

But even as stigma declines, the amount of education on these topics remains limited on most campuses. This can further fuel the crisis and stop many from reaching out when they need it. The decline of stigma is important, but so is discussing the cause of the rise in the first place and what can be done before the diagnosis is made. Stigma is also hard to measure, although people may say that they do not have a stigma towards those struggling, it can not be verified, leading to many still believing that the stigma exists. The more judgment someone feels about their struggle, the less likely they are to get better. Even when resources are abundant, they are not always helpful, which is why it is important for further research to be conducted on why mental illness is on the rise within this age group. Here at Trinity College, mental health assistance is available through the Counseling and Wellness Center, where appointments can be made Monday through Friday. There are also ample other resources for teenagers and young adults looking for extra support.