Campus depression has risen within the last decade. There are various ways we can assist.

There is a problem on college mental health in campuses across America. The rate of college students who experience depression has almost tripled over the past decade, from 21% in 2014 to over 40% in 2023, according to Healthy Minds Network, a research group that looks at teen and young adult mental health at schools and institutions around the country. The anxiety rate is nearly as high, with 15% of college students reporting having seriously considered suicide.

Although students' mental health crisis has a direct impact on their academic performance, it can also have significant consequences outside of the classroom. Students with mental health problems drop out of school at a rate of one in four, and those who experience depression are twice as likely to do so without earning a degree or other accreditation.

More and more institutions are becoming concerned about the growing student mental health needs of students, but it's not easy to find solutions. Many schools struggle to hire enough counselors because of financial constraints and a nationwide shortage of mental and behavioral health professionals. Support staff report feeling overworked and worn out. Counseling center staff are quitting at unprecedented rates.

New Jersey is also working to more directly address students' acute mental health needs. The $16 million in subsidies the state provided last year is being actively used by 44 eligible two- and four-year colleges and universities to increase their capacity to provide mental health services to students.

Today’s busy college students usually don't have the time to seek therapy and other support services when physical counseling clinics are open during regular business hours. Online service providers like Uwill remove time and distance constraints; almost one-third of appointments on the platform are booked on the weekends or after 5 p.m. on weekdays. In a survey of more than 5,300 students enrolled with Uwill, almost 60% of respondents reported never having a meeting with a mental health counselor at their college or institution.