How Do We Know What We Know About College Student Mental Health?

Abstract

This chapter begins with a brief overview of various sources of truth, including authority figures, faith, science, reason and experience. Although all sources of truth are recognized as valid, science is particularly valuable because of its relative objectivity. Therefore, the balance of the chapter describes three major sources of empirical information about college student mental health. First, the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) is discussed, followed by the Healthy Minds Study (HMS) and then the National College Health Assessment. The latter two are national surveys of college students, whereas CCMH only collects data from students receiving mental health services. The HMS, like CCMH, gathers data specific to college students’ mental health; the National College Health Assessment, which is conducted by the American College Health Association, collects information on college students’ physical and mental health. Taken together, these three sources of data provide the basis for comparisons between college students who are and are not receiving mental health services, allow for determinations of trends in college student mental health and serve as the basis for hundreds of studies on the prevalence, causes, correlates and consequences of college students’ mental health.

Citation

Hayes, J.A. (2024), "How Do We Know What We Know About College Student Mental Health?", College Student Mental Health and Wellness: Coping on Campus, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83549-194-220241002