Articles and research from our team on the future of mental healthcare for young adults.

Moravian University President Dr. Grigsby On Innovation, Culture, and Student Well-Being 

According to his college mentor, Bryon L. Grigsby, PhD, Moravian University’s 16th president, once said, “Someday I’m going to run this place,” though now, he laughs and says, “I’m sure I meant the English Department, not the whole institution.” 

When the ‘90 alum first stepped on the Moravian campus as a freshman, he was consumed by soccer and basketball. After experiencing a career-ending injury in his sophomore year, Dr. Grigsby quickly found himself questioning his identity as a non-athlete. Thanks to the support of Robert T. Burcaw, PhD, who he now meets monthly for lunch, Dr. Grigsby changed his major to English and set out for a career in academia. 

After earning his PhD in English from Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Grigsby got a faculty position at Centenary College, where he worked for a few years before the president asked him to consider administration. He figured he’d try it out and eventually return to being a professor, but Dr. Grigsby quickly fell in love with the chaos of administration. He spent five years at Shenandoah University working in academic affairs before joining his alma mater in 2013. 

"I love this place so much. Moravian is unique in providing a community that I’ve never seen at any other institution I’ve been at. It cared for me when I was a student, even though I didn’t realize I was being cared for," says Dr. Grigsby. 

I love this place so much. Moravian is unique in providing a community that I’ve never seen at any other institution I’ve been at. It cared for me when I was a student, even though I didn’t realize I was being cared for.

Building a More Robust Campus and Seeing Higher Admissions

While many institutions are struggling to recruit students, Moravian has seen a dramatic increase in student enrollment, which is due, in part, to the many efforts being made by Dr. Grigsby and his administration. 

Over his ten-year presidency, Dr. Grigsby has enhanced the campus’s technology infrastructure, built a new-student orientation program, opened the new Center for Intercultural Advancement and Inclusion and the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences Center, surpassed $100-million in fundraising, and launched Moravian University’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, among other major initiatives. 

The institution was also reclassified from a “college” to a “university” in 2021, which required a new structure, and now means the institution offers master’s and doctoral degrees, in addition to its undergraduate programs. Within the new School of Behavioral and Community Health, which opened in 2022, students can now pursue master’s degrees in clinical counseling, school counseling, and social work, as well as online certificates in specialized skills, which will help grow the network of mental health providers. 

This new classification meant new strategic hirings and the recruitment of many incredible leaders, from James Scifers, PhD, the Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, to Lesley R. Brown, PhD, the Associate Provost and Founding Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences to the Associate Provost of the College of Health, who are bringing new life to the institution. 

Moravian will also expand the institution’s student center, the HUB, to bring together health and counseling services and provide additional wellness offerings. When students walk in, they will be able to request a flu shot or counseling and they can leave through a private exit which Dr. Grigsby hopes will eliminate some of the stigma associated with help-seeking and reduce some of the barriers to care.

Even though he’s made many innovative changes at Moravian, Dr. Grigsby continues to ask himself, how can we continue to embrace more people within this community and support their lives outside of campus? In addition to continuing the institution’s long-held tradition of greeting every person in passing, Dr. Grigsby has put a lot of effort into fostering and maintaining a culture that’s supportive and caring. 

Every week, Dr. Grigsby hosts a dinner at the president’s house, which rotates between athletics and organizations bi-annually and gives students an opportunity to talk about their experiences, the culture, and what support they need to continue taking care of one another. By staying connected to the students on campus, Dr. Grigsby is able to mitigate problems that might arise and better recognize students’ pressing needs. 

He also hosts community-wide events, including Winterfest and Heritage Day, a day that commemorates the Moravians and prioritizes giving back. This annual event is something that many students look forward to and includes a full day of activities, including off-campus service events. Dr. Grigsby knows that building a strong sense of community is critical to student success – and that often starts with him and his administration. 

“I don’t think there’s a president that doesn’t wake up every morning and check their phone to make sure that their students are alive. It’s a very stressful time,” says Dr. Grigsby. “Parents are sending their most precious gifts to [us] and entrusting [us] with that – and we’re supposed to adult them. We’re supposed to teach them self-knowledge and help them self create and give back to society and get out into the world with great jobs.” 

Not only does Moravian have a robust Counseling Center, as well as a Student Help and Referral (SHARE) Team, made up of eleven campus leaders, who meet at least once per week to discuss incoming student concerns, but they have also recently launched a Just Ask campaign, in which students can ask for support on anything from a bill to a mental health concern. Students can submit a question via the chatbot, which is immediately assessed by a campus leader who can refer them to the right department or service. Moravian has also worked with Mantra Health for the past three years, bringing more clinical support to students.

"I can’t praise Mantra enough. It’s been highly successful for us," says Dr. Grigsby. "It’s added a whole new realm of mental health services for our students. [Telehealth] is an added bonus. It produces a new group of people we weren’t serving before."

I can’t praise Mantra enough. It’s been highly successful for us. It’s added a whole new realm of mental health services for our students. [Telehealth] is an added bonus. It produces a new group of people we weren’t serving before.

Celebrating the Past and Embracing the Future 

The sixth oldest institution in the country, the first to educate women, and home of the national honor society for first-generation college students, Moravian has a long, rich history. One of its buildings, the Brethren’s House, played an important role in the Revolutionary War – and in 2024, the campus’s Historic Moravian Bethlehem will be considered for a World Heritage Site. 

While Dr. Grigsby and his administration are excited to celebrate the institution’s history, they continue to look for ways to innovate. Having acquired Lancaster Theological Seminary in recent years, Dr. Grigsby believes more mergers and acquisitions are on the horizon. He’s also looking forward to seeing the ways in which AI will transform higher education. 

“It’s a dynamic time,” says Dr. Grigsby. “You still have to become a leader, and you still have to critically think, but I think AI is going to help you do that. If you like change, this is a moment you’d be thriving in.” 

Following the Moravian mantra “hound ‘em,” which means never give up, have total persistence, show determination, and don’t take “no” for an answer, Dr. Grigsby plans to keep making positive changes for his alma mater – and will, no doubt, continue to build the type of community that helps students thrive both on campus and off. 

“Some say, ‘call one hound and the whole pack comes running,’ and I see that all the time,” says Dr. Grigsby. “This is what our students live by,” and this is what keeps Dr. Grigsby motivated. 

To learn more about our partnerships, fill out this form or contact us at partner@mantrahealth.com. 

“I like being at the intersection of clinical practice, technology, and research,” says Ben Locke, PhD, the Chief Clinical Officer at Togetherall, the leading peer-to-peer community, where he oversees the clinical team across the U.S., New Zealand, UK, and Canada.

Long before joining Togetherall, Dr. Locke worked as a wilderness therapist, as well as in group homes, psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health. He eventually found his way to Penn State, where he spent nearly 20 years holding various roles such as assistant director of research and technology, clinical director, and most recently the senior director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). 

Working alongside an exceptional team at Penn State, and building upon the center’s existing foundation, Dr. Locke had the opportunity to design an ideal system that effectively improved the supply and demand imbalance and addressed students’ rising mental health needs. Part of his approach included partnering with third-party providers, including Mantra Health and You at College, among others. 

Wanting to influence the collegiate mental health field at a population level and seeing how valuable and supportive these innovative telehealth services could be, Dr. Locke decided to join Togetherall in 2021 and has recently partnered with Mantra Health to bring more accessible mental health support to students across the country through the Whole Campus Care solution.

Advancing the Field of Collegiate Mental Health Through Collaboration

Many years before the college mental health landscape shifted to include the implementation of telehealth services, Dr. Locke saw a need for more data-driven solutions. He was frustrated with the way people in higher education were talking about mental health. “It was a series of opinions and data drawn from sources that were not the people engaged in mental health treatment and service."

Understanding that technology and research were just as critical to the conversation as the clinical approach, Dr. Locke helped co-found the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) in 2004. The organization, which started as a grassroots collaborative effort has since evolved to become an international Practice-Research-Network of over 750 college and university counseling centers. 

Designed to create an infrastructure that generates high-quality data, CCMH brings together the voices and expertise of students, patients, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, counseling centers, vendors, and other leaders in the space. Part of why CCMH is able to achieve its desired outcomes, Dr. Locke explains, is because the organization is driven by the needs of the college community rather than the economic interest of those involved.

"The existence of CCMH and all the benefits it offers is 100% dependent on the relevant parties working in collaboration to produce data-driven insights,” says Dr. Locke, who sees the relationship between on-campus counseling centers and telehealth providers working the same way. 

Rather than acting as competitors, Dr. Locke believes counseling centers and telehealth providers can work together to fill gaps in services and achieve a much larger, long-term goal of connecting students to more accessible clinical and non-clinical mental health solutions. 

Working in Alignment with the Counseling Center 

When it comes to student mental health, Dr. Locke says the pendulum has swung from one extreme to another, and his hope is that this will soon balance out. The key, he believes, is to acknowledge the universality of human distress, which comes with feelings of sadness, anxiety, grief, and loss.

“I think we need to fundamentally take a step back and rethink our initial response to distress. In general, a student's first experience of distress should include connecting them with people and support systems rather than presuming they need professional treatment,” says Dr. Locke.

The current approach of referring nearly every student to individual counseling and escalating levels of professional treatment is no longer tenable for institutions and doesn’t necessarily fulfill students’ pressing needs, says Dr. Locke. “We need a different model that focuses on population-wide support and connecting people with appropriate resources.”

Institutions are already turning to telehealth providers for additional mental health support, but Dr. Locke hopes they will work more closely with third-party vendors to create an interconnected web of support, systems, and options for students, understanding that both the institution and the vendors offer their own unique benefits.

“I have a profound appreciation for the field of counseling psychology,” Dr. Locke says. “I want to enhance the counseling centers’ ability to meet needs,” and it's through these partnerships that Dr. Locke believes a more cohesive, holistic offering is possible. 

Innovating with Technology and 24/7 Clinical Moderation 

While some students need intensive treatment, many don't. Rather than referring students through complex systems of care, why not provide basic in-the-moment support? If a student’s stressed about an exam, for example, they can’t wait three weeks to see a counselor, and that might not even benefit them. Instead, they could turn to a peer who’s going through a similar experience and solve the problem in real time. 

This is one of the many reasons why Dr. Locke feels Togetherall and other wellness services can make a significant difference in students’ lives. “Human change unfolds across many weeks and months of interactions, not just during one hour sessions,” he says. 

There’s also a significant shortage of providers, putting additional pressure on college counseling centers. Rather than referring every student in distress to counseling, we should be thinking about supporting students across time, considering what they really need and when they need it, explains Dr. Locke. 

“Peer support, with its versatility and accessibility, can play a crucial role in creating a scalable model of mental health support,” says Dr. Locke. 

Togetherall combines technology with clinical rigor to provide support to students that’s responsible, safe, and effective. Within the platform, Togetherall maintains 24/7 clinical moderation using licensed mental health professionals. In addition, the company trains students to become peer supporters – and part of the 10-week comprehensive training program includes hands-on practical experience and clinical supervision. 

By training peers and exploring new provider categories, Dr. Locke aims to create a new framework for effectively meeting the diverse needs of individuals seeking mental health support. To maximize and support existing clinical services, which are essential, Dr. Locke hopes institutions will consider adding in additional services like peer-to-peer support, crisis support, and wellness content, which can fill in gaps on the care continuum and support students on various stages of the mental health journey.

To learn more about our partnership with Togetherall, please connect with us here. 

Advancing Mental Health at a Population Level with Togetherall’s Chief Clinical Officer Ben Locke, PhD 

Reimagining the Role of the Counseling Center: How Hamilton College Approaches Student Mental Health

The Hamilton College Counseling Center wants to get the right treatment to the right students at the right time. To achieve this, David Walden, PhD, Counseling Center Director at Hamilton College, works on setting reasonable expectations around service offerings, session availability, and provider capabilities. 

“It doesn’t mean putting up boundaries. It doesn’t mean saying ‘No.’” says Dr. Walden, PhD. What it really means is being upfront about the role that the counseling center plays in the student journey.

Early on, students, along with their parents and guardians, are given messages that mental health support is available to all students at all times, no matter their situation. While free mental health services are offered on most campuses, not every center is equipped with the staff, resources, or clinical expertise to meet every student's mental health needs at all times, even if they wish that were true – and this can result in confusion, disappointment, and frustration.

While Hamilton College offers a wide range of services, including wellness and clinical offerings, Dr. Walden hopes that institutions, in general, will get real about higher education’s capacity to serve students in distress. This means being more open and honest with students upfront so they know what to expect when they walk into the campus counseling center. 

Prioritizing Transparency in College Counseling

“Wait lists are not meeting people's needs. They promise something that we may not be able to deliver or provide in a timeframe that is going to meet a students’ clinical needs,” Dr. Walden explains, which is why he prefers to focus on developing an intentional approach to services that other resources for mental health needs that can be fulfilled elsewhere.

Overrun with requests for appointments, many counseling centers are inundated with intakes and constantly adding new patients to their providers’ rotations. This increases a provider’s caseload, leads to long wait times, and inevitably lowers the quality of care provided. 

Dr. Walden believes there’s another way. 

Success to me is being transparent and honest, and just saying: ‘Here's what we can and can't do’. Instead of attempting to meet all needs with limited resources, our goal should be to be honest with the people we serve. That may mean a student doesn't get exactly what they are seeking, but that's a reality [that exists] in healthcare broadly, not just in higher education.

Rather than promising to meet every need, why can’t some students be directed to on-campus wellness programs? And others referred to more intensive clinical services off campus? Providers are working against [multiple] sets of expectations, Dr. Walden explains, and students have ideas of what they want, which are often at odds with what they really need. These young adults are in the early stages of understanding what the world around them can and cannot provide – and learning that the campus center isn’t fully equipped to fulfill a student’s every need can be hard to digest. 

This is hard for people who work in college settings. “We didn't get into this business to not respond to pain and suffering,” said Dr. Walden. “But there's a real opportunity for us just to embrace and admit that we can't be everything.”

Meeting Student Mental Health Needs with Diverse Offerings

Years before the pandemic, Hamilton College started exploring supplementary offerings and ways to provide a more comprehensive set of mental health services – and over time, the counseling center has learned that students’ preferences are wide-ranging. Using student feedback and suggestions, as well as formal methods of assessment, including satisfaction surveys and questionnaires, Hamilton College is able to take a more proactive approach to student mental health. 

“We recognize that students as human beings are holistic entities and need a more holistic approach to care,” Dr. Walden explains, which is why the counseling center provides both clinical services like individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric care, dietitian care, and peer counselors and wellness offerings that are also effective and impactful. 

Some of Hamilton College’s wellness offerings include art therapy, acupuncture, movement and music programs, as well as a Wellness Room with weighted blankets, biofeedback, and massage chairs. The counseling center has also established the Community Pantry, a virtual cooking class with a registered dietitian, which has helped students with cooking and preparing healthy meals.

“College centers aren’t inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment centers,” Walden says, but they can function as a supportive place for students to access reliable resources, gain direction, and access a myriad of mental health offerings.

“By moving some students to wellness and virtual therapy options, our staff can focus on the quality of treatment provided to students assigned to an on-campus counselor,” says Dr. Walden, which has resulted in positive outcomes for Hamilton College students. 

While national symptom numbers are rising, as more and more students battle anxiety, depression, and other conditions, Hamilton College is seeing much lower numbers than peer institutions – and the rise in conditions is moving at much slower rates.

“I think it’s because we have a treatment focus,” says Dr. Walden. “We're giving the correct dose of medicine, so to speak, at the right time.”

That doesn’t mean Hamilton College isn’t facing its own set of challenges. Psychiatric providers are hard to find, specifically psychiatric providers who understand the college population and can serve the students well. This is, in part, why Hamilton College has turned to Mantra Health. 

Working with Mantra has been great for psychiatric care. It has met our needs in terms of basic additional hours, but also in terms of finding someone who is a good fit for our population, someone who could bring a different personality, approach, and a different set of demographic characteristics to the role and function… That feels really really wonderful.

While higher education continues to face challenges – including provider burnout – Dr. Walden hopes that institutions will consider a new approach to care and find ways to validate students and their mental health needs through a broader set of resources. 

Students are increasingly broadening their definition of mental health, so why not shift the way we approach mental health? The institution has an opportunity to legitimize, validate, and talk more about students as psychological, emotional, and physical beings who have needs that can (and should be) met with a wider range of services and resources. Instead of limiting the counseling center to clinical services, Dr. Walden believes that mental wellness exercises, coping strategies, and other therapeutic offerings can also support students, especially those that may not need traditional therapy or psychiatry. 

“We can’t keep doing what we’ve been doing and expect the outcomes to be different,” Dr. Walden says. “We really need to have a different approach if this is going to be a sustainable space.”

At this year’s HLTH Conference, Mantra Health was honored to win a 2022 UCSF Health Hub Digital Health 'Rising Star' Award in the category of Mental & Behavioral Health, which recognizes outstanding health technologies and innovations that are transforming mental healthcare. 

Chosen among hundreds of exceptional companies, this award is a testament to the Mantra Health team – and community of supporters – who work day-in and day-out to ensure that college and university partners, clinical providers, and students receive the resources, technologies, and services they need to truly thrive. 

“We have built an incredible team of creatives, engineers, clinical providers, and leaders who are not only driven by the company’s mission to provide young adults with accessible, equitable, and quality mental health and wellness solutions, but are eager to innovative, collaborate, and work tenaciously to improve mental health in the higher ed community,” said Ed Gaussen, Co-Founder and CEO of Mantra Health. “Every member of the Mantra Health team deserves recognition for their contributions, which have, no doubt, improved the quality of care we deliver. You won’t find a more deserving team.”

College and university presidents have declared the mental health of faculty, staff, and students a top priority, as rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality among students continues to rise, signaling a pressing need for more comprehensive mental health programs and crisis prevention strategies that safeguard the community and its faculty, staff, and students. 

“As a clinically-informed digital mental health company, we understand that Mantra Health has a responsibility to innovate, push boundaries, expand our service offerings, and strengthen our clinical excellence to ensure that quality mental health services are made accessible and equitable for every student,” said Gaussen. “I look forward to meeting the ever-growing needs of the campus – and blazing trails in the field of young adult mental health care.”

Mantra Health has grown exponentially since its founding in 2018. We partner with colleges and universities, as well as health insurance plans, to provide students with virtual therapy, psychiatry, 24/7 crisis care, and wellness content. Our mental health solutions have been deployed across 105 college and university campuses, including Penn State University, Miami Dade College, Colgate University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others – and we are trusted by more than 800,000 students. 

“Mantra Health is committed to building quality mental health solutions that scale effectively across many different campuses,” said Matt Kennedy, Co-Founder and COO of Mantra Health. “Being recognized as a ‘Rising Star,’ it is imperative that we continue to expand our existing systems, processes, and services to better serve our partners, providers, and patients. This is an exciting and critical time for mental health innovation, but Mantra Health is ready to lead the industry forward.” 

To learn more about Mantra Health, a clinically-informed digital mental health provider for young adults, and how you can partner with us to build a campus-tailored program for students, contact us at partner@mantrahealth.com. 

Mantra Health Recognized as a ‘Rising Star’ in Mental and Behavioral Health

A mental health crisis occurs when an individual’s behaviors put them at risk of harming themselves or others. The individual may experience limits to their day-to-day level of functioning.

With 75% of lifetime mental health issues becoming present by age 24, there are hundreds of thousands of students experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidality, and/or psychosis, among other mental health concerns. Being able to recognize and identify a student in crisis is vital for protecting the health and well-being of the individual, their families, and the community at large. 

As a campus leader responsible for the health and well-being of students, it’s important to be able to identify a student at risk and understand signs and symptoms, who faces increased risk, and how to support a student who may be undergoing a mental health crisis or emergency. 

What Does a Mental Health Crisis Look Like?

A mental health crisis can occur at any time, anywhere, which is why it’s important for faculty, staff, administrators, students, and other community members to be able to recognize those at risk. 

Common signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis include:

Inability to complete daily tasks (i.e., bathing, dressing, attending class)

Contemplation of death, suicidal ideation, or a suicide attempt

Social withdrawal, isolation, or avoidant behaviors

Engaging in impulsive, aggressive, and/or reckless acts and behaviors

Rapid change to mood and inability to regulate mood responses

From 2013 to 2021, rates of anxiety and depression among students have increased 110% and 135% respectively, with the highest rates among racial and ethnic minority students.

Who is Most at Risk for a Mental Health Crisis?

Mental health crises are inevitable and can occur with depressive episodes, trauma experiences, eating disorders, substance use, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, among other situations. Nearly 73% of all college students experience some sort of mental health crisis during their college careers. While they can occur on any campus, by anyone, some students may be more likely to experience a crisis.

Studies have found that students identifying in the following groups are at a higher risk of a mental health crisis:

Racial or ethnic minority students – Factors contributing to mental health problems among college students of color include experiences of microaggressions, discrimination, imposter syndrome, and negative campus climate.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community – LGBTQ+ students have an increased propensity to stress related to having a marginalized social identity, which can impact their mental health. The risk is even higher for transgender and nonbinary students who may not be able to find or access identify-affirming care. 

First generation college students (FGCS) – FGCS may experience stress from lack of academic support, absence of support from family and friends, and difficulty with cultural transitions.

International students – As a minority on a college campus, international students have needs that may be overlooked by their campus or university. International students often have a hard time navigating the medical system and are less motivated to seek psychological services and may lack access to resources due to financial, language, and cultural barriers. 

Student-athletes – These students are pressured to perform inside and outside of the classroom. They may also face stigma around mental health and help-seeking behaviors, have trouble finding care that meets their needs, and are unable to access counseling services during traditional hours due to their challenging schedules. 

Students with a mental health diagnosis also have an increased risk of experiencing a mental health crisis, as they may have a hard time managing day-to-day stressors in conjunction with their mental health problems. 

Students, in general, are dealing with a lot. In addition to experiencing normal college stressors, students are also navigating and adjusting to technology and social media, relationship difficulties, economic stress, eco-anxiety, and an unknown future. They are making major life decisions on what they will do with the rest of their lives – and yet, the brain does not fully mature until the age of 26, long after many students have graduated. For this reason, many young adults are acting based on feelings, impulse, and pleasure-seeking desires. 

What Should You Do in a Crisis Situation?

If you recognize someone in crisis, remain calm. Speak in an even-toned voice. Do not overreact. You want to offer options of care to the individual. Ask if there’s a family member or friend you can reach out to; ask if they are working with a mental health professional; ask if they have a safety plan. If the individual cannot name anyone, call campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and/or a crisis line. This could be the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911. You can also offer to walk the student to the counseling center. When all else fails, be patient. 

How Do You Know If It’s a Crisis or Emergency?

A mental health crisis is different from a mental health emergency, but the former can lead to the latter. In an emergency, an individual is experiencing an acute disturbance of behavior, such as:

Life-threatening situation or event that places them or someone else at an immediate risk of harm 

To protect the safety of the student and the campus community, every campus should establish mental health crisis and emergency protocols. If you’re working with external mental health providers, including telehealth providers or local community providers, make sure they’re informed of campus-specific procedures so virtual crisis and emergency situations can be properly and safely de-escalated. 

With mental health concerns continuing to rise across college campuses, colleges and universities need to act now, if they haven’t already, to establish crisis prevention strategies and protocols. 

When working with partners, know that Mantra Health shares medical decision-making, screens for, assesses, and identifies students at risk, and implements virtual crisis response plans that support on-campus protocols and procedures. 

We want colleges and universities to trust in our ability to aid in the deescalation of mental health crises and emergencies, which is why we work so closely with our partners to ensure that all students are protected in our care. To learn more about emergency response best practices and how we approach them, download this guide.

- Miriam Egan, MEd, MA, LPC, LCADC, NCC, Mantra Health Provider

According to a 2022 College Pulse survey, more than half of students reported their mental health as “fair” or “poor,” but only 13 percent said they used on-campus counseling services. When asked if they knew where they could seek help on campus if they were struggling with their mental health, only 26 percent strongly agreed that they did. 

The reasons why students don’t seek out mental health services are varied. A 2020 study published in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, sought to answer this question and found that limited knowledge of mental health, perceived stigma and embarrassment, financial costs, and availability of resources all play a role. 

Just because student’s aren’t utilizing mental health services doesn’t mean they don’t need them. Here’s what colleges and universities can do to improve utilization rates:

Awareness campaigns can be used to combat mental health stigma on campus and remind students that free support is available. This is, especially, relevant during stressful times of the year, including during midterms and finals – or even in the first few weeks when students are facing various peer pressures and undergoing high levels of social anxiety. 

Research shows mental health awareness campaigns are effective at reducing stigma toward help-seeking behaviors. They should be used by colleges and universities to debunk misinformation, increase knowledge and awareness of mental health issues, and remind students that they don’t have to suffer alone. 

We recommend doing campaigns around mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality, and focusing on signs and symptoms, treatment options, and pathways to care, so students feel empowered to seek support when they’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, depressed, or are unable to function in their day-to-day lives.

Build Marketing Initiatives Around Mental Health Services

“You want to reach students where they are and create enough awareness of mental health resources so students will utilize the services when they need them,” says Kelly Carleton, VP of Program Success at Mantra Health. “Email and social media campaigns sent out to the student body announcing that these services are available and how to sign up for them are very effective.”

She also suggests pinning a banner on Blackboard or similar learning management systems so students are consistently reminded that mental health services are available at no cost.  

Reaching students isn’t always easy, so go where they are. Start a social media account for the counseling center. Put up flyers in highly-populated areas, as well as nearby establishments, including coffee shops and libraries. Put ads in the school newsletter or student magazines. Encourage student groups to share information about new mental health offerings as they become available. 

Host Free Mental Health Workshops and Events

Students may not feel comfortable walking into the counseling center or signing up for a one-on-one session, but they may attend a free webinar on mental health issues and pressing concerns like test anxiety, financial stress, time management, grief, or self-care. 

“This can humanize providers and help them become more integrated into the conversation around mental health and wellness on campus,” Carleton says.

If your counseling staff is overburdened and unable to provide these workshops, you can work with third-party providers, including telehealth companies, to make these available to students. Ideally, the providers running the workshops are also available for one-on-one sessions should these students decide to seek out professional support. 

Telehealth services have been shown to be just as effective as in-person care and many students prefer this option. Telehealth can help extend counseling service hours, which are traditionally only available between 9am and 5pm, ensuring that students get support where and when they need it. It can also help reduce wait times to care. 

When working with a telehealth provider, make sure you’re gaining access to a diverse pool of providers who practice cultural humility and offer unique specializations, such as trauma-informed and gender-affirming care. Students often want providers who match their own background, identity, race, gender, or shared lived experiences – and knowing that diverse providers are available will encourage more students to utilize the telehealth offering. 

We know how hard it is to reach students, which is why our Partner Success team works closely with colleges and universities to ensure that students know about existing services, have self-referral options, and are supported during breaks and in the summer months when many go home to other states. We work closely with our partners to build tailored care offerings, including 24/7 campus-specific crisis hotlines and student mental health and wellness workshops.

“Mantra is unique in how they relate to our students,” said Lourdes Perez, EdD, Director of Student Services Operations at Miami Dade College. “The workshops that Mantra provided were very well attended. I had the best attendance I’ve had compared to any other workshop that I’ve provided.” 

While rates of mental health service utilization have increased among college students over the past decade, many barriers still exist that prevent these young adults from getting the help they need. Consider working with a mental health provider that knows the challenges faced by students and works collaboratively with on-campus staff to really tailor the mental health resources and services to the campus.

To learn more about Mantra Health and our offerings, check out our University page. 

How to Improve Utilization Rates of Mental Health Services

Mantra Health Expands Suite of Mental Health Services in Partnership with Charlie Health

Serving High-Acuity Needs and Improving Student Mental Health Outcomes with a Telehealth Emergency Response Team

Moravian University President Dr. Grigsby On Innovation, Culture, and Student Well-Being

Advancing Mental Health at a Population Level with Togetherall’s Chief Clinical Officer Ben Locke, PhD

Reimagining the Role of the Counseling Center: How Hamilton College Approaches Student Mental Health

Mantra Health Recognized as a ‘Rising Star’ in Mental and Behavioral Health

What is a Mental Health Crisis?

How to Improve Utilization Rates of Mental Health Services