Adult Learner

Mental health resources for college students: A comprehensive guide

A woman student is sitting at her computer for a virtual counseling session.

Recent college mental health statistics confirm what many already knew: Students are struggling to keep up in class and preserve their mental health.

A 2022 study found that more than 60 percent of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem. A different survey concluded that nearly three-quarters of college students reported moderate or severe psychological distress.

No matter what you’re dealing with, just know that you don’t have to do it alone. There are several mental health resources for college students to take advantage of.

5 types of college mental health resources to be aware of

Whether you’re having trouble being away from home for the first time or you’re an adult learner balancing all of the stresses of work, school and life, everyone needs support sometimes. Keep these options in mind when you begin to feel overwhelmed.

1. Find a therapist

Working with a licensed professional is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. But even if you have insurance and the means to pay for therapy, it can be time-consuming to find a provider who is accepting new patients. Fortunately, an increase in virtual therapy options has made it easier in some cases, as there is more flexibility.

The Psychology Today therapist finder tool is a great place to start your search for providers in your area. You’ll want to browse listings and find people who you think will be a good fit, and then initiate a short phone screening call. You can reach out to prospective therapists by email, phone or profile and request a consultation.

2. Crisis hotlines

Sometimes people experience a mental health crisis and can’t wait weeks or even days to speak with someone. If you or a loved one need immediate help, there are many free and confidential resources that can help you connect with a skilled, trained mental health professional via a phone call or text.

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (Formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline): Call 988 for English or Spanish. TTY users can use their preferred relay service or dial 711, then 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text SIGNS to 741741 for 24/7, anonymous, free crisis counseling
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990
  •  

    Abuse/Assault/Violence

  • National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 22522
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat
  •  

    LGBTQ+

  • The Trevor Project’s Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678
  • Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860 Older Adults
  • Alzheimer Association Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
  • The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 – TTY Instructions
  • 3. Free online peer support groups

    In a perfect world, everyone would have access to affordable therapy sessions with a trained professional. However, we know that is not the case for many individuals. But there are online spaces where you can find friendly and supportive communities of people who may be dealing with the same hardships you are.

    Online peer support groups can be a great place to link up with other people, feel less alone and even make new friends. While these aren’t a substitute for therapy, there are plenty of options that are free and make it easy to get connected.

    There are hundreds of support groups for all kinds of topics. Here are a just few examples:

    Online support groups for depression

  • 7 Cups
  • ADAA en Español
  • Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
  • Mental Health America
  • NAMI Connection
  • Postpartum Support International
  •  

    Online support groups for grief

  • Actively Moving Forward 
  • Cancer Care
  • First Candle
  • Grieving.com
  • MISS Foundation
  • Suicide Grief Support
  •  

    Online support groups for ADHD

  • Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
  • Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
  •  

    Online support groups for eating disorders

  • Eating Recovery Center (ERC)
  • National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
  • National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
  • 4. Free/low-cost assistive technology apps and software

    People with disabilities are often marginalized and face more barriers to education than their able-bodied peers, which can negatively impact their overall mental health. Assistive Technology (AT) is used by many individuals with disabilities to do things that might otherwise be difficult or impossible.

    An AT device could be any item, piece of equipment or product system, that is used to increase, maintain or improve a person’s functional capabilities. Some examples of helpful AT for students include:

    Audio Recording and Notetaking Support

  • AudioNote: Ability to link your typed notes with audio recording
  • OneNote: Notetaking solution that includes capturing audio, importing files, organizing your notes and more
  •  

    Closed-Captioning/Live Transcription

  • Web Captioner: Free real-time captioning
  • Zoom: Live transcription helps capture speech in the moment with instant captions, but only the host of the meeting can enable this feature
  •  

    Speech-to-Text Software

  • Apple Dictation: Free app for Apple devices
  • Gboard: Free mobile dictation app
  • Google Docs voice typing: Dictating in Google Docs
  • SpeechTexter: Free dictation app for occasional use
  • Windows 10 Speech Recognition: Free app for Windows users
  •  

    Text-to-Speech Software

  • Claro ScanPen: Take photos of your printed document, select text and have it read back to you
  • NaturalReader: Converts Microsoft Word documents, webpages, PDFs and email into spoken text
  • 5. Mental health resources for military members and veterans

    Those who have served in the armed forces are more likely to experience certain types of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Estimates vary, but one study of 60,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans concluded that 13.5 percent of deployed and nondeployed veterans had PTSD. Another meta-analysis of data from 2007-2013 found that around 23 percent of troops were afflicted. (PTSD rates in the general population are around four percent.)

    While service members and veterans have access to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mental health resources, there are also several other online options. Consider the following:

  • College Student Veterans with Disabilities: Student veterans can learn more about getting started in college, financial aid, PTSD resources and more.
  • Combat Wounded Veterans Career Center: Find jobs with veteran-friendly companies for veterans or a veteran’s spouse and family. You can also learn more about veteran-related benefits, news, military life and discounts.
  • Disabled American Veterans: Provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families. Connects veterans with meaningful employment, hosts job fairs and provides resources they need.
  • Help for Military Service Members and Their Families
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Resource Center: Has information for military personnel who are concerned for treatment resources and how to stay healthy during the transition to civilian life. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 by calling (800) 273-8255 and pressing 1.
  • National Center for PTSD: Understand PTSD by learning about the symptoms, types of trauma, common reactions, treatment options and more.
  • Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or Crisis Chat or text: 838255
  • Wounded Warrior Project: Serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound while serving in the military on or after September 11, 2001. Provides resources on getting connected, mental wellness, physical wellness, career, and VA benefits counseling, and has a Veteran Independence program.

     

    Get the support you deserve at UMass Global

    At UMass Global, we are committed to supporting our students in every way we can. We offer a robust array of student services designed to help you stay motivated, engaged and on track for graduation. Our faculty, academic advisors and staff are dedicated professionals who care about the success of each and every student.

    In addition to the mental health resources for college students shared above, we encourage our UMass Global students to take advantage of all our services, which include:

  • Alumni Connection 
  • Career Services 
  • Center for Instructional Innovation
  • Military and veteran resources
  • ; Office of Accessible Education
  • One Stop financial aid services
  • Online Writing and Math Center
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