November-December 2007

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College Students and Mental Health

What do we know about the mental health of college students? Findings from the American College Health Association’s biannual survey indicate that depression and related mental health problems are widespread:

  • About 42 percent of college students report having felt so depressed at some point during the previous year that they had trouble functioning.
  • About 15 percent say that depression, an anxiety disorder, or a seasonal affective disorder caused them to receive an incomplete, drop a course, receive a lower grade, or suffer academically in some other way.
  • The percentage of students who report having been diagnosed with depression increased from 10 percent in spring 2000 to 15 percent in fall 2006.
  • About 26 percent of students who have been diagnosed with depression are currently in therapy, and37 percent are taking medication.
  • About 9 percent of students report having seriously considered suicide at least once during the previous year.

Source: American College Health Association, American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2006 (Baltimore: American College Health Association, 2006).