Think Piece
Mental Health
Among Young People
The mental health of our students is declining, and the pandemic is not solely to blame.
By Kelly Waechter, assistant director of counseling and psychological services, Illustration by James O’Brien, Summer 2024
The growing concern surrounding the psychological well-being of young people is entirely warranted given that virtually every available measure indicates a decline in student mental health. According to the most recent Healthy Minds Study (HMS), 60 percent of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem. Specifically, college students are experiencing all-time high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation: During the 2021–22 academic year, 44 percent reported symptoms of depression, 37 percent said they experienced anxiety, and 15 percent said they have seriously considered suicide. These are the highest numbers in the annual survey’s 15-year history.
Though researchers tracked a significant increase in anxiety and depression during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the upward trend in young people’s mental health challenges was underway before the pandemic. The Healthy Minds Study found an overall 136 percent increase in depression and a 110 percent increase in anxiety among students from 2013 to 2021, and the number of students who met criteria for one or more mental health problems in 2021 had doubled.
Why This Dramatic Increase?
There is no conclusive answer. Most likely a complex interplay of various factors has impacted young minds, but many experts believe much of the cause is societal. It cannot be ignored that the rise in time students spend on social media and using smartphones has coincided with growing mental health problems. Young people have had easier access to information about a host of significant national and global problems that can easily cause stress, whether the issue is climate change and related disasters, racial injustice, international strife, or gun violence.
Additionally, mental health disorders are often glamorized and romanticized on websites and social media, potentially complicating treatment efforts and inducing undue stress. Furthermore, some experts suggest that the shift toward extrinsic motivations (such as seeking more followers and likes) rather than intrinsic ones (like being a valued community member) delivers a blow to mental wellness.
Social media and phone use aren’t solely to blame, however. Financial burdens stemming from increased tuition costs and living expenses cause stress. These pressures necessitate student employment alongside academic pursuits and add future debt to students’ list of worries.
The Way to Wellness
Although there is more work to do, the stigma surrounding mental health has faded over the years, making it easier to ask for help. Data from the Healthy Minds Survey revealed that between 2020 and 2022, the number of students who participated in counseling or therapy increased from 30 to 37 percent—the most significant increase since 2018. The Moravian University Counseling Center has seen an increase in students accessing mental health support and has added staff and programming, including our new Case Management Division, to accommodate this increase.
In addition to clinical counseling, every one of us can help ease students’ mental woes with the following actions:
Prioritize your own mental health. Just like airlines instruct passengers to secure their own oxygen masks before assisting others, it’s essential that you take care of yourself first. This foundational step is crucial before extending support to others.
Encourage dialogue around mental health. Help normalize conversations surrounding mental health by sharing your own experiences (within reason) and by regularly asking open-ended questions that are focused on mental well-being. During these conversations, accept young people’s thoughts and feelings without judgment; only offer advice if asked, and consistently remind students you are there for them. The Jed Foundation offers expert tips on how to talk with young people about their mental health.
Educate yourself. It’s important to know the signs of distress and recognize when a student may be experiencing mental health issues. It’s equally important to understand the mental health resources available to you and others.
Support collectively. When addressing the needs of young people, it’s essential to look beyond individual cases and acknowledge broader societal challenges. For instance, marginalized and minority groups often face barriers to accessing support services, and the growing number of students seeking assistance underscores the urgency of ensuring that help is available to everyone.
The responsibility lies with us to alter the downward trend of mental health. By improving ourselves and our actions, we create opportunities for students to thrive and make positive changes in their own lives.
1200 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
1 800.441.3191
610.861.1320
FAX: 610.625.7930
Moravian University is committed to making its website accessible to all users. Should you find content that is inaccessible, please contact webaccessibility@moravian.edu or visit the Office of Disability & Accommodations.