New Models In College Mental Health

Forbes Health complied statistics showing the prevalence of mental health concerns in America, and these concerns are experienced all over the world. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) provided recommendations to transform mental health care, including reshaping school environments. Higher education is being revamped by collaborative models in college mental health, such as the one I shaped for Texas Christian University, which was featured in a sponsored Chronicle of Higher Education post. These models meet the recommendations of the WHO by utilizing the infrastructure of higher education and establishing formal partnerships with community providers.

Infrastructure Of Higher Education

Because there are colleges and universities all over the world, college mental health has the potential to make a global impact. In addition, as reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, young adults aged 18-25 years have the highest prevalence of any mental illness. Higher education has unparallel access to this demographic and most students are of age to enjoy the privilege of confidentiality. Furthermore, campuses generally include ready-made-facilities, modern technology, and a community of referral sources. This infrastructure makes college mental health a premiere health care system and, as described by the Indian Journal Medical Research, provides significant opportunities for health promotion, prevention, and early intervention.

The Need For New Counseling Models

College Student Development described the developmental challenges that young adults experience while starting college, and campus counseling centers were traditionally designed to address these challenges. However, more students are currently experiencing serious mental health concerns. A 2024 report by Healthy Minds found that 33% of students reported being previously diagnosed by a health care professional with depression and 39% reported being previously diagnosed with anxiety. A 2023 report by the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention indicated that 24,000 college students attempt suicide every year.

In response to the increased prevalence of serious concerns, schools have attempted to absorb students with high mental health needs into the developmental counseling models. A described by a 2022 report in The Hechinger Report, absorption models include clinicians taking on new cases even if they don’t have appointments available, implementing session limits, and spacing out appointments to bi-weekly sessions; and these models are not effective. For example, students with high needs tend to monopolize resources. A 2023 study by the Center of Collegiate Mental Health found that counseling centers gave 56% of all appointments to 20% of clients. Furthermore, as highlighted by The Hechinger Report, absorption models do not provide adequate treatment for high mental health needs and still result in long waitlists.

Collaborative Models of Campus Counseling

As described by a 2022 report in the journal of Medicine, collaborative care is a model among primary care providers to integrate mental health care services, and these models are effective and cost efficient. Campus counseling centers can collaborate with community providers to integrate specialized programs designed to treat high mental health needs. To illustrate, a 2024 report by American Addictions Centers indicated that substance abuse is common among college students. A 2021 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration described the clinical issues related to intensive outpatient programs for substance use concerns. These issues are beyond the scope of care for campus counseling centers to treat; however, a 2015 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Services found that there are over 6,000 intensive outpatient programs for substance use concerns in American that are offered by community providers.

Under collaborative models, counseling centers allow community providers office space on campus to facilitate specialized programs, such as IOP’s. Tuition doesn’t cover the cost, but many schools offer a student insurance plan (some schools require it), meaning that the remaining costs for students is the co-pay. Schools then fundraise/seek grants to provide stipends to assist students in covering the cost of the co-pays. Thus, students receive high-level services at reduced or no out-of-pocket costs (while staying enrolled in school), treatment centers expand their programs, and counseling centers save resources by avoiding absorption models. Collaborative models can be applied to any serious mental health concern, such as eating disorders, trauma, suicide ideation, etc.

The impact of collaborative models throughout higher education can significantly reduce the mental health concerns of society in cost-effective ways. For example, SAMHSA plans to spend $8.1 billion in 2025 to support mental health and substance use services, which is $612 million more than the 2023 enacted budget. A 2023 report by Best Colleges stated that there are nearly 6,000 colleges and universities in America. The additional $612 million from SAMHSA is enough to provide each postsecondary institution $102,000 in stipends for students to access specialized programs on campus (many schools wouldn’t even need this amount).

In summary, there are colleges and universities in every state in America, including some in rural communities, and these schools have easy access to a vital demographic. Utilizing collaborative models is one way that campus counseling centers are maximizing the opportunities that higher education provides.