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The Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) published its 2022 Annual Report which explores the connections between dropping out of school and seeking counseling services. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), there was a 4.9% increase in college student dropout rates across the U.S. Given these national rates, the report concludes that offering comprehensive mental health support services on college campuses is necessary for the success and well-being of students.
The 2022 Annual Report compiled data from the 2021–2022 academic year from 180 college and university counseling centers, describing 190,907 unique college students seeking mental health treatment; 4,688 clinicians; and more than 1.2 million appointments. The report examined five years of data related to students’ decision to voluntarily withdraw from school during counseling services.
The data sheds light on the difficulties faced by college campus mental health services. For instance, close to 80% of counseling centers indicated that they don’t offer regular extended hours. Additionally, more than 40% of counseling centers reported not being able to retain the majority of students who seek their services. The CCMH report also notes current trends in mental illness among college and university counseling centers:
- Anxiety, stress, and depression remain the most common issues reported by therapists but showed a slight decrease in 2021–22. Conversely, trauma assessed by clinicians noticeably increased.
- Students are increasingly reporting social anxiety symptoms of over-generalized anxiety, with the largest increase being the concern of “others not liking me.” Although academic distress has slightly declined, it remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. The largest increase in academic distress was in problems staying motivated in class.
- The lifetime history of trauma has risen over the past 10 years, with childhood emotional abuse and sexual violence being the leading contributors to this increase.
- Despite a declining trend over the past 10 years, “lifetime history of causing serious injury to another person” marginally increased from 5.3% in 2020–21 to 5.7% in 2021–22.
The report highlights the ongoing challenges faced by college students with regard to mental health and the importance of addressing these issues through comprehensive support services. Clearly, an efficient solution that caters to the needs of students without putting undue strain on campus resources is required.
The continued adoption and evolution of telehealth
COVID-19 highlighted the changing nature of healthcare delivery and the crucial role that technology plays. One reason for the growing adoption and evolution of technology in healthcare is the shortage of mental health professionals across the U.S. The federal government designated that almost 40% of people live in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals, with more than 60% of counties without a single psychiatrist.
Recently, at Becker’s Hospital Review’s 12th Annual Meeting, experts on virtual and hybrid care discussed how innovations in digital health platforms are revolutionizing access to healthcare for those who cannot physically attend appointments. They highlighted how automated communication between patients and care teams are helping healthcare professionals monitor changes in a patient’s health and respond promptly.
In a separate American Medical Association (AMA) Immersion Program webinar, experts discussed the future of telehealth, emphasizing the potential for “eyebrow-raising” joint ventures between technology and healthcare professionals to create innovative telehealth solutions that will aggregate technologies to make virtual care easier to use. They predict that there will be greater efforts and investments to improve the usability of telehealth and to expand the number of people who can benefit from this technology.
Both the experts at Becker’s Hospital and AMA agree that telehealth will continue to evolve into a more user-friendly and comprehensive solution that benefits patients, reduces workloads, and lowers costs.
Opportunities to optimize campus health resources
The CCMH report along with the Becker’s Hospital Review and the AMA webinar shed light on the areas where telehealth—and its predicted advances—can address the gaps in campus health resources, making sure that students have round-the-clock and equitable access to care. The report highlights several key statistics for counseling centers that have implications for engagement and retention of higher education students:
- 79.7% don’t have regular extended hours, leaving a majority of students without easy access to dedicated 24/7 mental health resources.
- 40.4% don’t retain almost all students who seek services, routinely referring them to external services, meaning that many colleges don’t provide adequate support for students.
- 70.8% reported that after-hours crisis services are not primarily handled by counseling center staff. The result is that a majority of college students don’t have access to dedicated 24/7 crisis support aligned with the school’s care protocols.
- 42.4% reported that clinicians regularly engage in remote work, suggesting that students are likely becoming familiar with receiving mental health care in a virtual setting.
Meet students where they already are
How telehealth and virtual care support campus health resources
These statistics highlight the potential benefits of telemedicine in providing students with better access to care and filling the gaps in campus health resources. Here are a few practical examples of how colleges and universities can deliver comprehensive and accessible healthcare with virtual options that allow students to receive care from anywhere, at any time, and with greater convenience and affordability:
Improved access to mental health care
Virtual mental health services allow students to receive care from anywhere, at any time, without physically visiting a clinic. This provides more options for a struggling student who can’t attend an in-person appointment because of, for example, a scheduling conflict. With virtual mental health services, students can access support online, via a phone or computer, at a time that works best for them.
Expand services and diversity
More affordable healthcare
By eliminating the need for travel, insurance coverage, and other costs associated with in-person care, virtual health options can make healthcare more affordable for college students. And for students who live off campus, virtual health options mean they can receive mental or medical attention from the comfort of their own homes, saving money and reducing stress.
Greater convenience
With virtual health options, students can easily schedule appointments and receive care from the comfort of their own home or dorm room. And, students who can’t afford to miss a day of classes to see a doctor can schedule a virtual appointment during a free hour in their day or evening without having to leave campus.
Better coordination of care
Improved outcomes
Health experts agree that we’re in an era of digitally enabled care that combines in-person and virtual care models to provide flexible, cost-effective, and clinically appropriate healthcare. And national surveys among physicians and patients show “high rates of satisfaction among telemedicine users.” As a result of these trends, accelerated and accentuated by COVID-19, telehealth is revolutionizing how higher education delivers healthcare services.
Increasingly, colleges and universities are integrating virtual care solutions into their campus services by offering after-hours support, providing continuity of care by sharing records and collaborating, offering advanced mental health care through psychiatric services connected to the school rather than external/community care, providing crisis support, and alleviating the burden on overwhelmed campus resources. Telehealth has become an essential part of the solution for using technology to improve care access and experience for college students.
How can TimelyCare help your college or university fill gaps in care?
TimelyCare can enhance the overall wellness of college students by providing them with convenient access to virtual medical and mental health care. To achieve this, we have created a hybrid care model in collaboration with campus health resources, offering a comprehensive range of virtual services that include mental health counseling, on-demand emotional support, medical care, psychiatry, health coaching, basic needs support, guidance for faculty and staff, and digital self-care content.
Our virtual telehealth services allow educational institutions to use technology effectively to address gaps in care and provide 24/7 support, ensuring that students receive continuous care. With both virtual and in-person options available, colleges and universities can create a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem that makes it easier for students to access care and reduces the burden on overworked healthcare providers. By utilizing TimelyCare‘s integrated telehealth solution, students can avoid costly hospital and urgent care bills and receive timely, effective care. With a focus on high-quality, high-touch care delivery, TimelyCare offers peace of mind to campus administrators, healthcare professionals, students, and their families.
Learn how TimelyCare‘s hybrid care model, delivered through telehealth and virtual services, can enhance your campus health resources. Contact us today.
