4 challenges that college mental health is likely to face in 2025

As 2024 draws to a close, it is important to summarize the key challenges and opportunities that the field of college mental health is likely to face in 2025. This week’s post will explore the key challenges that may seem daunting to those investing in this field. However, a post next week will shed light on the unique opportunities offered by college mental health.

In 2023, the National Education Association released a report claiming that mental health crisis college campuses. It is important to note that in 2024 The chronicle of higher education released a report detailing the dangers of a mental health narrativeand the need to avoid sensationalism when describing developmental mental health issues among college students. While there is debate about whether college mental health is in crisis, it is recognized that college mental health is challenged by the need to treat the post-pandemic generation of students, by twin mountains that higher education must overcome , through divisive political conflicts in our country, as well as the recruitment and retention of staff for campus counseling centers.

The post-pandemic generation of students

A 2024 report on Forbes.com explained how the Class of 2028 is the university’s first cohort to enter early adolescence as high school students during the pandemic. As outlined in the report, early adolescence is formative for identity development, tolerance of change and the crystallization of views about the world. Because these students experienced global stressors during these formative years, they are likely to exhibit unique trends and patterns throughout their studies. There is initial evidence to support this. In 2024, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that the number of students who are transferring schools has increased significantly, and Forbes.com suggested that student voting behavior in the recent US presidential election was different than traditionally expected. Time will tell how unique this cohort is, but their mental health functioning will likely be different as well. Because most high schools last two to three years, there is reason to expect that the classes of 2028, 2029, and 2030 will be fundamentally different from previous generations of students.

Double mountains that higher education must overcome

In 2025, two major stressors will escalate that will impact higher education. Next year is the official start of the registration cliff. A 2024 report on Forbes.com describes the enrollment gap as occurring because there are fewer alumni living on the planet. This will result in a significant decrease in the number of students enrolled in colleges and universities. There seems to be a consensus that leading public schools and elite-level private schools should be able to weather this cliff; however, other schools are already feeling the impact. A 2024 report from Within Higher Ed outlined the growing number of colleges and universities that have already done so closed or merged.

The second major stressor is declining public confidence in higher education. By 2023, Gallup released a report showing that Americans have confidence in higher education dropped to 36%. According to this report, the largest decline in trust occurred among Republicans, which is significant considering that the Republican political party will have a majority government in 2025. It should be noted that a 2024 report on Statista.com, showed that the approval/confidence rating of the US Congress was equal 19%which is almost twice as low as that in higher education. However, it is not inconceivable that low trust in higher education will somehow trickle down to mental health care at universities.

Divisive political conflicts

Most agree that mental health is not a party political issue. However, as noted in an earlier 2024 report on Forbes.comit is necessary to give thanks to those in college mental health who have been negatively affected by divisive political conflict within our country. It is safe to assume that when lawmakers pass laws that reflect one side of a culture war, a faculty member expresses extreme views in class, or when students protest the views or identities of other students, that the campus counseling center usually addresses the consequences, and These consequences include helping students on both sides of the issue. A new US administration will come to power in 2025, but there are no indications that political conflict and division in America will diminish.

Staff recruitment and retention for campus counseling centers

A 2022 report from Within higher education discussed how many student affairs professionals there are leave higher education for less stressful and better paying jobs after the global pandemic. For therapists who work for a campus counseling center, the temptation remains to start a private practice, which is easier now with the rise of teletherapy. Many staff therapists can make more money and control their own caseloads and schedules by leaving the field. As such, it is a challenge for schools to recruit and retain high-level therapists, and this is likely to continue into 2025.

The challenges that college mental health is likely to face in 2025 are real and serious. However, challenges present opportunities, and the field of college mental health has unique advantages not found in many other health care systems. A follow-up post will follow next week exploring these unique benefits and opportunities.