Group of college students walking to class together.
Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Stress
09/03/2024

Dealing with Mental Health Stigma in College Students

by Jerry Kosmin

A July 2024 survey reported that 95% of college counselors said the mental health crisis is growing on their campus. In the same survey, 34.2% of students said their college didn’t know about their crisis, and 64% of students are no longer pursuing their college education due to mental illness.

Stigma and student mental health in higher education has been an ongoing concern across college campuses. In this blog, we will discuss the prevalence of mental illness in young adults as well as the importance of dealing with mental health stigma in college students.

Consequences of Stigma in Education

The majority of students struggling with mental health conditions of any kind don’t seek out the resources needed to get proper treatment. Many reasons contribute to this, but one of the most notable is mental health stigma in college students.

According to a U.S. News/Lab Generation report, only 37% of students surveyed searched for mental health resources at their college. Many students who hadn’t searched for resources said it was due to fear of social stigma in addition to negative past experiences and feeling that mental health care was ineffective.

Stigma is a term used when someone sees another person in a negative light due to a particular characteristic or attribute. Mental health stigma specifically refers to the negative connotation that surrounds mental illness and health issues.

Public stigma includes the stereotypes and discriminations held by the general population. These can be adopted by an individual before experiencing a mental illness personally. Their negative beliefs are born from societal views and notions.

Self-stigma occurs when an individual with a mental illness applies these views to themselves. After observing other people’s negative attitudes, they begin to internalize them, oftentimes leaving them to believe they are unworthy or should be able to control their symptoms through sheer willpower.

There are many harmful effects of mental health stigma, including but not limited to:

  • Feelings of shame, hopelessness, and isolation
  • Reluctance to ask for help or to get treatment
  • Lack of understanding from family, friends, or others
  • Fewer opportunities for employment and social interaction
  • Bullying, physical violence, or harassment
  • Self-doubt

Mental health stigma in college students is detrimental because it presents young adults with the idea that experiencing a mental health condition and seeking help is something to be ashamed of or fear. However, without the proper care, students struggling with their mental health are more at risk of hurting themselves or others.

If anyone is having suicidal thoughts, they should get help immediately. Contact the suicide hotline for assistance (call or text 988), or call Malvern Behavioral Health (610-480-8919). We have staff available 24/7 to assist someone feeling depressed or having unsafe thoughts.

Stressed college student looking at a laptop.

Mental Health Issues in College Students

Now that we’ve covered the effects of mental health stigma in college students, it’s important to know which issues are most common among students. Like many things in life, college can be a stressful experience from time to time.

Not only is it a transitional period between childhood and adulthood, but individuals are faced with the challenge of balancing their priorities—from achieving academic success to maintaining a healthy social life. Whether they are incoming freshmen or returning for their final year, these everyday stressors make mental health issues in college students more prevalent than many of us may realize.

The American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Spring 2023 national survey of over 55,000 undergraduate students revealed that approximately 76% were experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress.

Inside Higher Ed’s 2024 Student Voice survey asked 5,025 undergraduates how their mental health affected them. The results showed that 2 in 5 said their mental health is impacting their ability to focus, learn, and perform academically “a great deal”. Additionally, of those students, 1 in 10 rated their mental health as “poor”.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the United States and worldwide. Therefore, it is not too surprising to see that anxiety is also the most common mental health issue found among college students. There are several different anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:

Getting Help

Everyone experiences stress from time to time, however excessive feelings of fear or worry may indicate an anxiety disorder. While they may vary depending on the specific type, common symptoms for anxiety disorders include:

  • Panic, fear, and uneasiness
  • Feelings of panic, doom, or danger
  • Sleep problems or feeling tired
  • Not being able to stay calm and still
  • Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
  • Shortness of breath
  • Breathing faster or more quickly than normal (hyperventilation)
  • Heart palpitations or increased heart rate
  • Trembling
  • Dry mouth
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) issues
  • Nausea
  • Tense muscles
  • Dizziness or feeling weak
  • Thinking about a problem over and over again (rumination)
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Intensely or obsessively avoiding feared places or objects

While it is the most prevalent disorder, anxiety is also considered one of the most treatable mental health conditions. If you or someone you know is experiencing the symptoms above, contact a mental health professional or school counselor for more information.

Depression

After anxiety disorder, depression is the most common mental health issue in college students. Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. There are different types of depression (some of which develop as a result of specific circumstances), including:

Getting Help

For an individual to be diagnosed with depression, they must present symptoms for at least two weeks. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
  • Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
  • Fatigue, lack of energy, feeling slowed down
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Poor sleep hygiene (difficulty sleeping, waking too early, or sleeping too late)
  • Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
  • Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, digestive problems
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

As we mentioned before, depression is common, but also very serious. If you or someone you know is experiencing the symptoms above, contact a mental health professional or school counselor for more information.

If anyone is having suicidal thoughts, they should get help immediately. Contact the suicide hotline for assistance (call or text 988), or call Malvern Behavioral Health (610-480-8919). We have staff available 24/7 to assist someone feeling depressed or having unsafe thoughts.

Other Common Mental Health Disorders

The 2023 ACHA study (mentioned above) found that other common mental health issues in college students included:

Bringing awareness of mental health stigma in college students is the first step in getting those who need help the care they deserve.

College student speaking with her counselor on campus.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition, contact our team to see how we can help today.

This blog was originally published on February 4, 2022, and updated on September 3, 2024.