A REVIEW OF EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO COMBAT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
Open Access
Author:
Lewis, Claire Lynn
Area of Honors:
Biobehavioral Health
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Crista N Crittenden, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Lori Anne Francis, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
mental health interventions Big 10 Universities Ecological Model campus counseling centers
Abstract:
Within the past 20 years, mental health concerns and demand for mental health services has increased on U.S. College campuses. With 75% of lifetime mental health issues presenting in young adult years and higher education enrollment rates increasing, colleges and universities around the country are taking steps to combat the mental health issues of their students. In particular, large universities, categorized as having an enrollment of over 10,000 students, face the added challenge of meeting the needs of large student bodies, especially as the demographics of college students are diversifying. This thesis reviews the status of mental health among today’s college students, reasons why demand for services is increasing, and strategies in place to combat these issues. Specifically, five Big 10 Universities’ counseling centers and programs are reviewed, including Penn State-University Park. These larger universities face unique challenges when reaching 40-50,000 students on one campus. With this fundamental understanding, review of effective strategies, and look into different Big 10 school’s programs, key takeaways and recommendations are made for Penn State-University Park and large universities alike to continuously improve approaches for addressing student mental health needs.