The Healthy Minds Study (HMS) Winter/Spring 2021 National Data Reports are now available. Led by Principal Investigators, Daniel Eisenberg, Ph.D., Sarah Ketchen Lipson, Ed.M., Ph.D., and Justin Heinze, Ph.D., the Healthy Minds Study collects data and provides insight on college student mental health and related issues.
Ketchen Lipson noted this latest survey data reinforce decade-long trends in increased prevalence of symptoms each year before and throughout the pandemic as well as greater negative mental health effects on academics during the pandemic.
Of the report, Ketchen Lipson said, “Our data show worsening trends over the past 10 years, especially over the past five years. Throughout the pandemic we’ve seen a continuation of this trend, with our latest data from spring 2021 revealing slight increases in prevalence relative to fall 2020. In fall 2019 (pre-pandemic), 36% of students screened positive for depression and 31% for anxiety. In spring 2020, these numbers were 37% and 31%. In fall 2020, rates increased to 39% and 34%. In spring 2021, these numbers were 41% and 34%. Past-year suicidal ideation has been steady at a troubling 13-14%.”
“Additionally, throughout the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the proportion of students who indicate that their mental health has negatively affected their academic performance. In fall 2019, 22% of students reported academic impairment due to mental health on 6 or more days in the past months. In spring 2021, 27% reported 6+.”