College students who report feeling
lonely are over 4 times more likely to experience severe
psychological distress.
WASHINGTON, May 22, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Active Minds, in close
collaboration with higher ed virtual health provider
TimelyCare, released new data that sheds light on the close
relationship between loneliness and mental health, underscoring the
profound impact of loneliness on psychological distress among
students.
College students who report feeling lonely
are over 4 times more likely to experience severe psychological
distress.
A survey of approximately 1,100 U.S. college and university
students found that nearly two-thirds (64.7%) of college
students report they feel lonely, and the majority (51.7%) of
college students are concerned about their friends' mental health,
and three in 10 (28.8%) college students report severe
psychological distress. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness a public health
"epidemic" in 2023, and the new data suggest this is particularly
true for LGBQ+ college students, 70.3% of whom identified as
lonely, compared to 60.6% of their non-LGBQ+ peers.
While two-thirds (62.7%) of college students believe mental
health is an important campus issue, only half (50%) believe that
students actively identify mental health challenges, brainstorm
shared solutions, and collaborate with other students and
organizations to work together to improve mental health on their
college campuses.
Active Minds and TimelyCare conducted this survey in February to
understand how college students value and prioritize mental health
on an individual, interpersonal, community, and national level.
Student perception of mental health, for themselves and others,
shapes their college experience. Caring for their mental health is
necessary for student engagement, belonging, retention, and degree
completion. This study yields insights into college students' sense
of belonging, social connection, and shared concerns about mental
health. This, in turn, strengthens Active Minds' contributions to
the mental health field by bringing light to the power already
within a movement of mental health advocates. By equipping these
advocates, Active Minds aims to achieve a lasting shift in how
society views and prioritizes mental health.
"Loneliness is a clear factor in the well-being of college
students," said Alison Malmon,
Founder & Executive Director of Active Minds. "Our data
reveals not just statistics but narratives of isolation and
distress. By fostering connection, empathy, and shared concern, we
can rewrite the mental health story on campus. Together, as
champions of well-being, we can transform isolation into community,
and loneliness into belonging."
Additional key takeaways from the data include:
- College students who report feeling lonely are over 4 times
more likely to experience severe psychological distress.
- 28.4% of students report feeling isolated from others, 23.1%
report feelings of being left out, and 21% report lacking
companionship.
- Black and Latino/a/e college students value having good mental
health and taking care of their mental health the most compared to
other racial and ethnic groups.
- LGBQ+ students were more likely to prioritize their friends'
mental health than non-LGBQ+ students.
- Over half (53.7%) of all surveyed college students shared that
taking care of their mental health informs their decisions guiding
their behavior and actions.
- As compared to students attending two-year colleges, a greater
percentage of students at four-year colleges and universities agree
that students on their campus are concerned about mental health,
talk openly about mental health, believe that mental health impacts
their campus community, and work together to improve student mental
health.
"Colleges and universities are heavily invested in student
mental health, and these findings underscore the crucial role of
nurturing their sense of belonging and ensuring they have a range
of support resources at all times," emphasized Bob Booth, M.D., Chief Care Officer, TimelyCare.
"Peer communities can be very effective as they allow students to
provide support and encouragement to those who are struggling and
let them know they are not alone. TimelyCare is proud to partner
with Active Minds to change the culture around mental health and
help students be well and thrive in all aspects of their
lives."
You may download the full report, here.
About Active Minds
Active Minds is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to
promoting mental health awareness and providing resources for
mental health support, with an emphasis on mobilizing youth and
young adults. With a mission to reduce stigma and encourage open
conversations, Active Minds is a pivotal force in fostering a
supportive mental health community. To learn more, visit
www.activeminds.org.
About TimelyCare
TimelyCare is higher education's most
trusted virtual health and well-being provider, with a mission to
foster student success and improve the health and well-being of
campus communities. Founded in 2017, TimelyCare now serves 2.3+
million students, educators and staff at more than 350 campuses
nationwide. Its comprehensive suite of services – including mental
health counseling, on-demand emotional support, medical care,
psychiatric care, health coaching, student success coaching, basic
needs assistance, faculty and staff guidance, peer support and
self-guided wellness tools – expands the breadth of school
resources and empowers students, educators, and staff to be well
and thrive in all aspects of their lives.
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SOURCE TimelyCare