(BPT) - Supporting student mental health in higher education is a growing priority. College life can be very stressful, with challenging academics, financial worries and social pressures — not to mention the transition into adulthood. How common are these concerns? Last year's Healthy Minds Study of over 104,000 university and college students found that:
- 38% screened positive for moderate or severe depression.
- 34% screened positive for moderate or severe anxiety.
- 13% experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year.
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