Wellness Resources And Student Health Services On Campus
Universities and colleges generally want their students to succeed, and they typically provide several resources to help students on their path to graduation. One of these resources is campus student health services. Knowing more about the ways these health centers can support physical and mental health can help college students be more proactive about their own wellness. If on-campus mental health services aren’t sufficient, consider finding a therapist in your local area or via an online therapy platform.
Care provided by student health services: immunizations, mental health resources, and more
Learn more about the care that’s usually provided by student health services at universities.
Immunizations and other preventative care
Because many college students tend to have the health advantages of being younger and relatively healthy, most of their physical wellness needs may center on receiving preventative care. This care can include immunizations, such as the annual flu vaccine, the immunization schedule required for staying in campus residence halls and other communal living spaces, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
Students may also be able to receive screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at their student health center, as well as access free resources to engage in safe sex, like condoms and dental dams.
Mental health care
On a college campus, mental health care can be provided in the same clinic or building as the main student health center, but it’s often located in a separate area due to the high demand for mental health services among college students. To access mental health care at a university counseling center, students typically need to request an appointment during the center’s operating hours and complete a screening questionnaire at their first center visit. The questionnaire can assist the student’s assigned counselor in understanding their mental health needs.
For acute mental health situations, like suicidality, psychosis, or mania, universities often seek the assistance of local hospital systems, as it can be complicated to provide intensive care in a counseling center setting.
Basic health care
In addition to preventative care and mental health services, many college health centers can provide basic medical care to students at in-person appointments. A student could be prescribed an antibiotic for a case of strep throat or receive stitches for a minor wound. For anything involving X-rays, specialty medical care, or serious injuries or illnesses, though, a student will likely need to be referred off campus to a larger medical clinic or hospital.
The college mental health care shortage and health insurance concerns for college students
Lack of availability and insurance issues are two current concerns impacting student health services.
Lack of availability of mental health care
It is not uncommon for students to reach out to their university counseling center to schedule an appointment and be told the first available option is weeks or even months out.
According to Penn State’s Center for Collegiate Mental Health, in the 2022 – 2023 school year alone, almost 200,000 students attended approximately 1.3 million counseling appointments with about 5,000 clinicians at 195 college counseling centers that reported data – which is just a fraction of the total colleges and universities in the United States.
The stark difference between the demand for counseling services and the supply of available counselors means that a typical full-time college counselor may see around 139 students a year, with some counselors at institutions with higher demand seeing over 300 students a year, many of whom attend multiple appointments.
Insurance issues with student health services
Insurance may not be a concern for most college students when accessing mental health care on campus, as many university counseling centers are contracted to provide care for all enrolled students, regardless of their insurance status. If a student has mental health needs and can’t schedule an appointment at their university counseling center for weeks or months, though, that student may need to seek care elsewhere, and they may run into insurance issues with that process.
Many college students are still on their parents’ health insurance, and if they are attending college in a different state than the one where their parents live, they may not be able to use that insurance. Students could end up paying out of pocket for mental health care, which can be expensive.
The college student mental health crisis
Lack of availability of mental health services on campus can lead to problems for students. So why, in recent years, has demand for college mental health care far exceeded supply?
According to the American Psychological Association, the problem may be twofold:
- From a more positive perspective, it seems to have become more socially acceptable among younger people to seek mental health support. Many students come to college having already attended therapy appointments as children or adolescents, and they may view therapy as a resource to help them through challenging times. Therefore, a growing proportion of college students may seek mental health care through their universities.
- College life is usually considered to be more high-pressure than ever before, including traditional stressors like “coursework, relationships, and adjustments to campus life,” with the additional complications of “economic strain, social injustice, mass violence, and various forms of loss related to COVID-19,” which can lead to increased demand for student mental health services.
Common mental health concerns in college students
Anxiety and depression tend to be common among college students. Learn more about each of these concerns below.
Anxiety
Anxiety tends to be the most common diagnosis made at university counseling centers, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health. Anxiety can arise in response to a number of stressors commonly associated with college life, including academic workload, financial pressures, and high expectations from family members and other loved ones.
There also appears to have been an increase in the rate of social anxiety in the past few years. Experts say this change may be related to the social isolation and comparison often prompted by social media, or it may be a lingering effect of remote schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depression
Depression is another common mental health condition among college students. Depression and anxiety can co-occur, with untreated anxiety often evolving into symptoms of depression. Depression can also be influenced by homesickness, separation from family and loved ones, or relationship problems with friends, roommates, or romantic partners.
The relationship between mental health and academic achievement
Mental health can be just as important as physical health. If a person is mentally and emotionally unwell, they likely won’t perform their best in any area of their life, including academics.
Research has found that having higher levels of overall mental well-being can increase cognitive functioning, motivation, and engagement with one’s classes, all of which are usually associated with better grades and greater retention of classroom learning. Conversely, experiencing mental health concerns can be linked to lower energy levels, decreased concentration, and a sense of hopelessness regarding academic tasks.
Resources for student support
If you are a college student and are having difficulty scheduling an appointment with your university counseling center, there are several additional mental health care options available to you:
- Online therapy: With online therapy through an accredited service like BetterHelp, you can browse a database of thousands of qualified therapists and be matched with one instantly.
- National organizations: Organizations like the National Institute for Mental Illness (NAMI) can provide a variety of mental health resources, many of which are specifically tailored for college students and younger people.
- Crisis helplines: If you need immediate support, the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available.
Benefits of online therapy for students
With college counseling centers often being very busy, you may not be able to ensure an appointment on campus. In addition, appointments will likely be on the center’s schedule, which may not work for you between your classes, work, and other campus life obligations. Online therapy could be a more flexible care option in this circumstance.
Research has indicated that online therapy may be just as effective at addressing mental health concerns as traditional in-person therapy, including for mental health problems common in college students. A 2020 study examined the role of online therapy in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety and found that it typically had similar outcomes to in-person therapy.
Takeaway
While student health centers can be a helpful resource, many college students may face long wait times when seeking appointments at university counseling centers. Online therapy can help to bridge this gap.
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