Access to Mental Health

College life can be challenging for most students as they transition to undertaking adult
responsibilities and a life away from home. Personal struggles can cause college students’ mental
health problems as they adjust to a new environment, academic performance, as well as lack of
social support. Mental health refers to social, psychological, and emotional wellbeing. It is a state
of wellbeing where an individual is able to deal with the anxieties that they may encounter in
life. College students face many changes and challenges in life and thus need improved access to
mental health services for the purposes of enhancing their wellbeing. The Covid-19 pandemic
helped identify a gap in the provision of mental health services among college students, making
it necessary to improve and enhance the mental health of young adults. This paper explains that
improved mental health services are a necessity for college students as it ensures that students
receive the much-needed mental support and are helped to readjust back to campus after the
Covid-19 pandemic hence reducing the risk of suicide and performing well academically.
Adjusting to the new college life can take a toll on students’ mental health, and they thus
need support. Studies show that 39% of students struggle with mental health issues. This is a
high number (McGorry et al., 2022). It also implies that they deserve help to navigate the
stressful college environment. The provision of proper tools, resources, and human resources
will help support college students’ mental wellbeing and provide a supportive campus culture.
Further, students will find the college environment safe for them because they will have the
support that they require.
Mental health services in college should be improved to help prevent suicide among
students. After the Covid-19 pandemic, most students are returning to campus having lost a

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loved one to the virus or having been adversely affected in one way or another (Chen & Lucock,
2022). Students have reported life changes due to the pandemic. Some are now financially
strained because their parents lost their jobs or had their businesses affected during the
worldwide lockdowns. The living experiences of college students have changed since the
pandemic struck. As such, many may be resuming school amidst heightened levels of anxiety
and uncertainties. Students deserve better mental health services that were available before the
pandemic to help them adjust to the new life and overcome desperation which could increase
their risk for suicide.
Improved mental health services are necessary to help improve students’ academic
performance. Mental health issues affect the motivation to work on academic projects. 20% of
college students have reported failing college exams because, at the time, they were facing
mental health issues (Gaiotto et al., 2022). Thus, improving mental health services is necessary
to aid students in optimizing their potential and performing well academically. A survey also
showed that students who received mental counseling registered for improved academic
performance (Gaiotto et al., 2022). These services are therefore necessary for the lives of these
students.
Overall, mental health is important for an individual to thrive socially, psychologically,
academically and for general wellbeing. College students deserve improved mental health
services to help them navigate life away from home and in a new environment. Additionally, the
pandemic made it necessary to improve these services and provide support t help students cope
with life’s challenges and eliminate the risk of suicide as a result of the same. Mental health
services are necessary for students to tap into their potential and perform well academically.

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Thus, it is important to provide the necessary resources that will ensure that college students
have access to improved mental health services.

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References

Chen, T., & Lucock, M. (2022). The mental health of university students during the COVID-19
pandemic: An online survey in the UK. Plos one, 17(1), e0262562.
Gaiotto, E. M. G., Trapé, C. A., Campos, C. M. S., Fujimori, E., Carrer, F. C. D. A., Nichiata, L.
Y. I., … & Soares, C. B. (2022). Response to college students’ mental health needs: a
rapid review. Revista de Saúde Pública, 55, 114.
McGorry, P. D., Mei, C., Chanen, A., Hodges, C., Alvarez‐Jimenez, M., & Killackey, E.
(2022). Designing and scaling up integrated youth mental health care. World
Psychiatry, 21(1), 61-76.