Yes, I’d like the Higher-Ed Report.
COLLEGE STUDENTS AT RISK
Before the pandemic, almost a quarter of college students had been diagnosed or treated for anxiety or depression in the previous 12 months (ACHA, 2019b). Add to that, the traditional college years coincide with the age of onset for several lifetime mental illnesses (McGorry et al., 2011). Furthermore, the demand for mental health services exceeds the resources available on most campuses (LeViness et al., 2019). This has led the public and scholars alike to declare a mental health crisis on college campuses (Schwartz & Kay, 2009).
These issues were magnified in Spring 2020 when college students’ environment changed rapidly, leading to increased isolation from their established social and academic communities. Young Minds reported that 83% of young respondents agreed that the pandemic worsened pre-existing mental health conditions, mainly due to school closures, loss of routine, and restricted social connections (Young Minds, 2020). The same survey indicated that 55% of college students surveyed would not know how to access mental health services from a professional when experiencing a crisis (Active Minds, 2020).
ABOUT THE STUDY:
In partnership with the Pruitt Center for Mindfulness and Well-Being at the University of Wisconsin – Superior, Levelhead participated in a case study for select classes in Spring and Fall 2020. The purpose of this study was to assess the acceptability of the “Learning to Thrive” content, delivered on the Levelhead digital engagement platform, as a classroom tool for improving stress, increasing student engagement, and improving focus and attention.
you’ll learn more about:
Pandemic’s Impact on University Students Overall
Critical Observations
Significant Changes from Fall to Spring 2020
Key Findings
Role of Higher Education Going Forward
“Inadequate efforts to recognize and address college students’ mental health challenges, especially during a pandemic, could have long-term consequences on their health and education (Browning et al., 2021). ”
REFERENCES (Even more in the report!)
Active Minds. (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Mental Health. Retrieved from https ://www.activeminds.org/wp-content/uploa ds/2020/04/Student-Survey-Infographic.pdf.
American College Health Association. (2019). American College Health Association: National College health assessment II: Reference group executive summary spring 2019. American College Health Association. https://doi.org/10.1080/24745332.2019.1620558
Browning, M. H., Larson, L. R., Sharaievska, I., Rigolon, A., McAnirlin, O., Mullenbach, L., ... & Alvarez, H. O. (2021). Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States. PloS one, 16(1), e0245327.
LeViness, P., Gorman, K., Braun, L., Koenig, L., & Bershad, C. (2019). The association for university and college counseling center directors annual survey: 2019. Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors.
McGorry, P. D., Purcell, R., Goldstone, S., & Amminger, G. P. (2011). Age of onset and timing of treatment for mental and substance use disorders: implications for preventive intervention strategies and models of care. Current opinion in psychiatry, 24(4), 301-306.
Schwartz, V., & Kay, J. (2009). The crisis in college and university mental health. Psychiatric Times, 26(10), 32. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/crisis-college-and-university-mental-health
Young Minds. (2020). Coronavirus: Impact on young people with mental health needs. https://youngminds.org.uk/media/3708/coronavirus-report_march2020.pdf.