Colleges and Universities

Mental health problems can negatively affect many areas of students' lives. Students with mental health difficulties may suffer from a decreased quality of life that can severely impact academic achievement, physical health, satisfaction with their college experience, and their peers and family members. These negative consequences are also detrimental to students' long-term success across the lifespan, affecting future employment, earning potential, and overall health (Eisenberg, et al., 2007a).

Negative mental health may affect a student's energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering her/his performance (Eisenberg et al., 2009a). Eisenberg et al. (2009a) finds, for example, that depression is associated with lower grade point averages, and co-occurring depression and anxiety can increase this association with bad grades. This study also suggests that depression is linked to dropping out of school, where a student's likelihood of dropping out increases if she/he is severely depressed (Eisenberg, et al., 2009a).

Students also self-report various mental health difficulties interfering with their studies. The American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (NHCA) finds that students report the following issues as negatively impacting academics:

The impact of mental health problems extends beyond an individual student's ability to thrive in a college environment. Peers, family members, faculty, and staff are personally affected out of concern for these students. Depression and anxiety can have a detrimental effect on relationships and work productivity.

Suicide and suicidal ideation also affect the larger campus community. Colleges must deal with the psychological impact of suicides such as suicide contagion on other members of the campus community (Meilman & Hall, 2006). Roommates, peers, faculty, and staff also feel profound grief over student suicides and suicidal behavior.

Campuses also feel the burden when students with mental health difficulties do poorly on coursework and drop out of school. Poor student retention means losses in tuition, fees, and alumni donations. Additionally, colleges and universities may face legal issues and negative publicity as a result of student crises and tragic events (Center for College Health and Safety, 2005; The Jed Foundation, 2008).

Communities and the larger society also feel the impact of mental health problems on the workforce when students are unable to finish their degrees and contribute valuable skills in a competitive job market (Center for College Health and Safety, 2005). One study found that five percent of students do not finish their education due to psychiatric disorders and estimates that 4.29 million people would have graduated from college had they not been experiencing such disorders (Kessler et al., 1995).