Lots of people look back on their college days with fondness. Whether you remember partying with friends or getting excited about your coursework, college has the reputation of being a fun and important formative experience for young adults.

But is that the reality? Are students able to enjoy their time in college anymore? Many young adults in school today find that they are having trouble maintaining good mental health while they keep up with their schoolwork.

As universities become more competitive and students realize just how important a degree is to building a successful career, has the stress of going to college gotten out of hand? Here’s what we know about the mental health and stress levels of modern-day college students.

An Epidemic of Heightened Stress in College Students

There’s no getting around it: we live in a stressful world. It starts young, with children pressured to perform well academically, pick up extracurricular activities, and eventually, get into the best college possible. That pressure piles on the stress even before kids get to college—if they even do get in.

That type of stress during high school is now carrying over to college, with devastating consequences. Once they begin their degree program, they often stress out about the workload, being away from home, making friends, self-management, and getting good grades. Many also don’t get enough sleep, increasing their stress levels even more.

All of this has led to an epidemic of stress among college students. 80% of students report that they feel stressed either sometimes or often. While some stress is normal (like during finals’ week), chronic stress can have serious mental and physical health consequences.

Benefits of Mental Health Screenings

Managing stress can be challenging, especially if there are many factors that are contributing to the problem. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that students have access to mental health support while they are in school.

Mental health screenings are an important tool for helping students manage stress. They can identify the specific struggles a student is going through and measure the severity of their problems. Screenings can also provide a starting point and a “road map” for better management and treatment.

School counselors should be prepared to administer these screenings whenever necessary. They can both provide information that allows for better mental health support for the individual student and help to identify trends within the student population in case more widespread changes and support are needed.

Impostor Phenomenon in the Classroom

Students who are happy and confident in their work should be proud of what they’re doing. Unfortunately, many students today suffer from “Imposter Phenomenon” or “Imposter Syndrome,” which is characterized by doubt in their own abilities and the fear that they will be exposed as a fraud. Students with Imposter Syndrome are quick to downplay their talents and often credit their success to external factors, rather than their own hard work and skill.

Imposter Phenomenon is extremely common, especially in academic settings. It intensifies within competitive environments like universities and can be yet another source of stress for young adults. It can also hold students back from success and new opportunities.

Unfortunately, Imposter Phenomenon tends to be stronger among underrepresented groups, including students of color, women in STEM, and first-generation students. These students typically have additional challenges and may need extra support in managing stress, self-doubt, and anxiety.

Advancing Women and Minorities in Leadership: Paths to Senior Roles in Higher Ed

We clearly need to see some changes in higher education to ensure the health and safety of all students. Maintaining the status quo is no longer serving students and helping to set them up for a bright future.

One of the most important changes we can make in the pursuit of more student-friendly universities is to advance women and minorities in higher education leadership for their perspectives and solutions. We need diverse leadership in colleges and universities because our students are more diverse than ever. They need support in their learning goals and overall well-being.

It’s unrealistic to try to completely eliminate stress in the lives of college students. Sometimes, stress can be good. But on the modern college campus, stress levels have reached an all-time high and we need to recognize that so changes can be made. Stress takes its toll and young adults should have the opportunity to ease into adulthood with less pressure and more confidence!