Perspective
In college, we join extracurriculars, meet lifelong friends and find people who make it feel like home. But there’s something a lot of students lose, and it’s themselves.
In films and TV shows, college is often described as one of the best times of our lives. Students can be independent, take on new opportunities and spend the day creating memories with friends. But some struggle in silence.
Amid social challenges, academic pressures, uncertainty surrounding their future and other personal stressors, many students find themselves overwhelmed as they lose track of priorities and their own health. Students have expectations of succeeding and many feel that by asking for help, they are weak.
Burnout has become increasingly common throughout college campuses, and studies have shown an increase in mental health issues among students. A Healthy Minds Network survey conducted between 2024-2025 shows that 37% of students have moderate or severe depressive symptoms and 33% with moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. Additionally, studies show that suicide is the second leading cause of death in young adults and as a collective community.
With alarming rates of mental health symptoms among students, mental health education should be mandatory in all universities.
Azam Hostetler, the executive assistant of Active Minds, a mental health advocacy group on campus, said there is a mental health epidemic throughout the country and that from a young age, people are taught to not express such emotions.
“Especially at this age, a lot of people don’t know how to navigate those [feelings] or even talk about them,” said Hostetler. “I don’t think they [students] should be forced to open up about anything, but if they have the skills in the back of their minds, in terms of being educated, that doesn’t just help them in college, that helps them for life.”
A National Library of Medicine article says that students often don’t receive mental health education, which makes it difficult for them to understand prevention methods, symptoms and benefits of treatments. This highlights a critical gap in mental health awareness as students may not be able to identify what they are experiencing or don’t know where to get help.
By integrating structured mental health courses into colleges, students will be well equipped with tools to recognize and treat symptoms. These courses would also assist students in learning different strategies in terms of coping with mechanisms and mindful exercises.
Rather than waiting for students to reach their breaking point, these initiatives for mandatory education should be taken now to promote prevention and awareness.
Today, conversations about mental health continue to carry a stigma that often discourages people from speaking out and creates a fear of judgement among students experiencing other pressures. With mandated courses, these conversations will become consistent and normalized, fostering a safe environment for students where their vulnerability is encouraged, rather than judged.
No student should have to navigate the dark times of their life alone. If these courses are able to help even one person make it through their hardest day, they’re a necessity.
