Students Trust Mental Health Services-but Few Use Them

"The survey, conducted in fall 2025 by the nonprofit in partnership with the College Student Mental Wellness Advocacy Coalition, was completed by more than 11,000 college students nationwide. Though 73 percent said they trust campus counseling services, relatively few turn to those resources for care. That doesn't mean they don't seek mental health support; they just don't do it on campus. About 55 percent of respondents reported having received professional mental health treatment, but only 18 percent said they accessed that care through their college."

"Dr. Sonia Krishna, a clinical and medical adviser to the Hi, How Are You Project, a mental health awareness nonprofit, said a fear of judgment among peers keeps many students from seeking mental health care. "Of course there's so much more awareness nowadays, which is wonderful, but stigma still does persist," Krishna said. "Being on campus can be hard because you see your friends or your teachers, and it may be a little bit harder to be vulnerable in that setting.""

A fall 2025 survey of more than 11,000 college students found a large gap between trust in campus counseling and actual on-campus use. Seventy-three percent reported trusting campus counseling services, yet only 18 percent accessed mental health care through their college. Fifty-five percent had received professional mental health treatment overall, indicating many students seek care off campus. Forty-four percent said fear of judgment discourages them from seeking mental health information, especially among peers. Accessibility barriers, including limited hours and difficulty attending in person, and a perception that residential community spaces are social but not mental-health resources, also contributed to underuse of campus services.

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