Table of Contents
Overview
Mental health challenges among college students are growing in complexity and urgency. In the recent Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) webinar, higher education leaders and mental health experts discussed actionable strategies to support student well-being before crises occur. Their insights highlight the importance of early intervention, holistic care models, and a shared responsibility across campus roles.
College is meant to be a time of growth, discovery, and possibility. But for many students today, it’s also a season marked by stress, isolation, and rising mental health needs. Across campuses nationwide, leaders are asking the same urgent question: How can we support students before they reach a breaking point?
That was the focus of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning’s (CAEL) recent webinar, “Before the Breaking Point.” Moderated by Ashley Faubion, Director of Initiatives at CAEL, the conversation brought together experts from TimelyCare, The Jed Foundation (JED), and InsideTrack to share what’s working, and what still needs to change, to create healthier, more supportive campus communities.
What mental health needs are students bringing to campus?
Seli Fakorzi, Director of Mental Health and Client Liaison at TimelyCare, sees a shift every day in the students she supports. Many are already managing medications, coping with previous hospitalizations, or carrying high-acuity needs when they arrive on campus.
“They’re well-informed and ready to access care,” she explained. “But they also need campuses that can keep pace with the intensity and frequency of their needs.”
That reality means the counseling center can no longer be the sole answer. As Mark Patishnock, Ph.D., Vice President of School Programs Implementation at The Jed Foundation, noted, “One office can’t span the full spectrum, from early detection and prevention to crisis response.” Instead, a whole-campus strategy is required, with everyone playing a role in creating a culture of care.
What’s the cost of compassion fatigue?
For faculty and staff, the weight of student mental health doesn’t just show up in office hours or counseling sessions. It appears in classrooms, labs, and residence halls.
Ann Werbach, Senior Director of Programs at InsideTrack, sees this challenge firsthand. “There’s a constant pull of wanting to do more with fewer resources,” she said. “And over time, that leads to compassion fatigue, the burnout that comes from giving so much of yourself to others in need.”
Faculty, staff, and resident assistants also need training, resources, and safe spaces to process the difficult conversations they’re having with students.
How can campuses meet students where they are with the support they need?
Despite the challenges, campuses are finding creative ways forward.
InsideTrack’s coaching model goes beyond academics to help students build confidence, motivation, and resilience. Their Crisis Support Services team provides immediate intervention when learners disclose serious risk, protecting both the student and the coach. InsideTrack also equips campus staff with training in proactive outreach and healing-centered approaches, so every interaction, whether over Zoom, text, or in person, can become an opportunity to foster well-being, belonging, and persistence.
At TimelyCare, more than half of student visits take place after 5 p.m. Whether students need mental health counseling, on-demand support for stress and anxiety, medical care, health coaching, or specialized crisis intervention, TimelyCare is built to provide 24/7 access to care. By ensuring students can connect with mental health providers any time of day or night—including weekends, holidays, and campus closures—TimelyCare helps bridge the gaps that traditional services alone can’t always fill.
The Jed Foundation partners with colleges and universities to build long-term, campuswide strategies that strengthen student mental health and resilience. Their JED Campus program provides a structured, multi-year framework that helps institutions assess existing resources, identify gaps, and implement evidence-based practices. This comprehensive model emphasizes fostering a culture of belonging, equipping students with essential life skills, embedding robust crisis response protocols, and reducing risks related to substance misuse and suicide.
Why students need a voice in shaping campus mental health services
One of the most powerful insights from the discussion is that students know what they need. Yet too often, decisions about mental health services happen without their input.
From simple strategies like QR codes in restrooms to data-informed outreach, institutions are finding ways to reach students who might otherwise feel invisible.
As Seli Fakorzi said, the key is belonging. “Students who feel seen are more likely to thrive. It’s not just about services, it’s about creating a community where every student knows they matter.”
How can campuses break down support silos?
Mental health support doesn’t live in one office. It touches academics, financial aid, housing, dining, and every aspect of student life. A food pantry without transportation isn’t accessible. A syllabus without a list of mental health resources included is a missed opportunity.
Panelists encouraged campuses to embed mental health into strategic plans, retention goals, and student success initiatives. It’s about more than access to care. It’s about ensuring that care is relevant, reachable, and responsive.
What can you do today?
When asked what institutions could do today to make a difference, the answers were simple but powerful:
- Pick up the phone. Call one student and ask, How are you?
- Normalize the conversation. Talk about wellness in classrooms, residence halls, and meetings.
- Remind, repeat, reinforce. Share resources often. The day a student needs them might not be the day they first see them.
- Collaborate. Make it everyone’s responsibility to care, from faculty to advisors to peers.
How to build a better future for student mental health
The message from the panel was clear: this work is hard, but it’s hopeful. Students are reaching out for help more than ever. Faculty and staff want to support them. And organizations like TimelyCare, The Jed Foundation, and InsideTrack are partnering with campuses to ensure no one has to do this work alone.
As Seli Fakorzi said, “We want students to seek care, to get their questions answered. There’s no wrong door to access support.”
When institutions approach mental health support with compassion, collaboration, and courage, students not only stay in school but can flourish.
Bring holistic mental health support to your campus
Want to explore solutions for holistic mental health support? Contact TimelyCare to learn how we can help support your campus community with 24/7 access, prevention tools, and integrated care.
Key Takeaways
- Students are arriving on campus with complex mental health needs.
- A whole-campus approach to mental health support is needed: one office can’t do it all.
- Faculty and staff face compassion fatigue and also need support.
- Solutions like 24/7 care, coaching, and crisis protocols can make a difference.
- Student voices must help shape campus strategies for mental health support.
- Mental health must be integrated into campus systems, not siloed.
FAQs
Students today face more intense academic, social, and financial pressures, often compounded by previous diagnoses or trauma.
Compassion fatigue is emotional exhaustion from supporting others. Faculty and staff experiencing it may struggle to maintain boundaries or provide effective care.
Start conversations early and often. Talk about mental health in classrooms and staff meetings—not just after a crisis.
Services like TalkNow from TimelyCare offer 24/7 mental health provider access, including after hours, weekends, holidays, and during breaks in the academic calendar.
Students know what support feels authentic and accessible. Involving them leads to higher engagement and better outcomes.
