Survey: College students’ stress, anxiety decline as they prioritize mental wellness

Stress and anxiety levels have declined among college students, a group that appears to be prioritizing mental wellness, according to survey results.

“While stigma around mental health is still very real, the report reveals that it is starting to decrease, and with increased awareness and support, we have seen that more students are comfortable with sharing and openly communicating about their troubles,” Sonia Krishna, a board-certified physician specializing in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry and board member of Hi, How Are You Project, the organization behind the survey, said in a press release. “This is certainly great news since college years are a high risk and critical time when help and resources should be readily available to make an impact.”

The survey, which was conducted in September, targeted all levels of colleges students across the U.S. and received approximately 9,000 responses.

Results showed a 25% decrease in how students felt about their anxiety levels compared with previous years, with 62% of participants reporting somewhat more or considerably more stress this year vs. 85% saying so last year. A total of 22% said their anxiety is considerably less or somewhat less than in previous years, and 16% reported no change in stress levels this year. A total of 67% reported that COVID-19 had forced them to look more closely at their mental health as a significant component of their overall health.

Further, 80% of students said they were most looking forward to socializing and interacting in person when asked about returning to campus in the fall.

“Given the fact that 75% of mental health issues arise before the age of 24, we are committed to raising awareness and being a resource for our college residents,” Bill Bayless, chief executive officer at American Campus Communities, said in the release. “This annual survey is a key component of our partnership with the Hi, How Are You Project to reach out to residents for feedback to better inform our approaches to peer-to-peer mental wellness training and how to further build community. It takes each and every one of us to open up the dialogue and help destigmatize mental health across our communities and beyond."