Anxiety, depression, and burnout are all on the increase among college students, according to a recent study conducted by The Ohio State University’s Office of the Chief Wellness Officer.

As a result of these problems, unhealthy coping methods such as vaping, drinking, and eating unhealthy foods have increased.

The poll results are consistent with previous statistics on college students in the United States.

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Unsurprisingly, students navigating through a year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic had higher rates of anxiety, sadness and burnout than other college students, according to new data from The Ohio State University’s Office of the Chief Wellness Officer.

In August 2020 and April 2021, Ohio State surveyed randomly selected students to evaluate changes in mental health, coping techniques, healthy living habits, and needs over time. The following students were among the 1,072 Ohio State students that responded:

Students with anxiety:

• August 2020: 39%
• April 2021: 42.6%

Students with depression:

• August 2020: 24.1%
• April 2021: 28.3%

Students with burnout:

• August 2020: 40%
• April 2021: 71%

Coping methods self-identified by students:

• Eating more unhealthy food rose from 25% to 29%
• Use of alcohol rose from 15.5% to 18%
• Use of tobacco/vaping role from 6% to 8%
• “Increased physical activity” dropped from 35% to 28%

• Students seeing a mental health counselor increased from 13% to 22%

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“Mental health promotion and access to services and evidence-based programs are going to be more important than ever,” said Bernadette Melnyk, vice president for health promotion, according to Bernadette Melnyk, vice president for health promotion, chief wellness officer, and dean of Ohio State’s College of Nursing.

“Two-thirds of students who are no longer in college are not in college due to a mental health issue. We would not send divers into a deep ocean without an oxygen tank. How can we send our students throughout life without giving them the resiliency, cognitive-behavioral skills and coping mechanisms that we know are protective against mental health disorders and chronic disease?”

Melnyk and colleagues at The Ohio State University and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are putting the results to good use by expanding resources and incorporating them into curriculum and campus life.

Melnyk and Melissa Shivers, senior vice president of Ohio State’s Office of Student Life, will co-chair a new mental health panel established by university president Kristina Johnson.

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As students return to school, the commission will promote and safeguard their mental health and well-being, including improving and maintaining a caring and wellness culture that will benefit the whole university community.

As part of the project, all college students will get a new “5 to Thrive” mental health checklist to utilise as they prepare to return to their campuses:

“Students who were dealing the best in terms of their emotional outcomes were connecting with family and friends, building their resiliency and engaged in physical activity,” Melnyk said.

“So as students are welcomed back to campus this fall, these five steps are so critically important to both fortify a foundation of mental resiliency and make self-care and mental well-being a priority. It’s actually a strength to recognize when you need mental health help; it’s not a weakness.”

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Photo by Ty Wright/Bloomberg via Getty Images