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Cited by 947Mental Health Treatment and AccessStudent Stress and CopingSuicide and Self-Harm Studies

Increased Rates of Mental Health Service Utilization by U.S. College Students: 10-Year Population-Level Trends (2007–2017)

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Lipson, Sarah Ketchen, Lattie, Emily G., Eisenberg, Daniel·2019·Psychiatric Services
DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.201800332PMC PMC6408297
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to document population-level trends in mental health service utilization by college students. METHODS: The study drew on 10 years of data from the Healthy Minds Study, an annual Web-based survey, with a sample comprising 155,026 students from 196 campuses. Analyses focused on past-year mental health treatment and lifetime diagnoses of a mental health condition. Changes in symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation and levels of stigma were hypothesized as potential explanatory factors. RESULTS: Rates of treatment and diagnosis increased significantly. The rate of treatment increased from 19% in 2007 to 34% by 2017, while the percentage of students with lifetime diagnoses increased from 22% to 36%. The prevalence of depression and suicidality also increased, while stigma decreased. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date regarding upward trends in mental health service utilization on U.S. campuses over the past 10 years. Increasing prevalence of mental health problems and decreasing stigma help to explain this trend.

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  • Increased numbers of adults, particularly university students, are experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, which are exacerbated by the recent restrictions introduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Increased numbers of adults, particularly university students, are experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression [1,2], which are exacerbated by the recent restrictions introduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic [3,4].”

    From Engagement and effectiveness of a healthy-coping intervention via chatbot for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Mixed methods proof-of-concept study (2021) · cites this paper as [2]

    The Results (page not provided) show that depression symptoms increased among U.S. college students from 2007 to 2017. The paper does not establish increasing stress or anxiety symptoms, or a trend among adults generally. The COVID-19 clause is attributed to other citations, not this source. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • College counseling center utilization increased from 6.6% in 2007 to 11.8% in 2017.

    “According to data from the Healthy Minds Study, in 2007 about 6.6% of students received treatment at a college counseling center. In 2017, this number jumped to 11.8%.12”

    From Aligning students and counseling centers on student mental health needs and treatment resources. (2022) · cites this paper as [12]

  • With the increasing number of students utilizing college counseling centers and needing services, it is imperative that researchers and clinicians identify strategies that will improve services and reach the large number of students in need.

    “With the increasing number of students utilizing college counseling centers and needing services,12 it is imperative that researchers and clinicians identify strategies that will improve services and reach the large number of students in need.”

    From Aligning students and counseling centers on student mental health needs and treatment resources. (2022) · cites this paper as [12]

  • When assessing the effects of perfectionism intervention research, it is pivotal to remember that students are using more and more services available on campus.

    “When assessing the effects of perfectionism intervention research, it is pivotal to remember that students are using more and more services available on campus (Lipson et al ., 2019).”

    From The impact of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for perfectionism: a reinterpretation through the lens of the Model of Excellencism and Perfectionism (2024) · cites this paper as Lipson et al., 2019

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Authors
Lipson, S. K., Lattie, E. G., & Eisenberg, D.
Affiliations
Boston University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychiatric Services
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
2019-01-01
Volume
70
Issue
1
Pages
60-63
ISSN
  • 0022-1597 (ISSN-L)
  • 1075-2730
  • 1557-9700
DOI
10.1176/appi.ps.201800332
PMC
PMC6408297
OpenAlex
W2899520395
Cited by
947
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 129 · 2025: 143 · 2024: 146 · 2023: 162 · 2022: 152 · 2021: 131 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 20
FWCI
72.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychiatric Services (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (K08MH112878)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
Keywords
mental health service utilization, university students, psychotherapy, depression prevalence, suicidal ideation, mental health stigma, Healthy Minds Study, university mental health services
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, United States, Universities, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Young Adult, Social Stigma, Suicidal Ideation

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