Carleton recognizes the challenge to mental health and wellbeing that college students face. A key piece of recognizing that challenge is understanding the scope of what our students are dealing with in their lives. In our 2024 National Collegiate Health Assessment (NCHA) and our 2023 Well-Being Perceptions Survey, we learned the following about Carls:
- The level of stigma associate with mental health challenges is lower than you might assume.
- 97% of Carls think it is acceptable or somewhat acceptable to seek help for your own mental health concern.
- 98% of Carls think it is acceptable or somewhat acceptable to encourage a peer to get help for their mental health concern.
- 89% think it is acceptable or somewhat acceptable to request an academic accommodation related to a mental health concern.
- Carleton students report experiencing mental health challenges in their lifetime, including those who have ever been diagnosed with:
- 36% with Anxiety
- 28% with Depression
- 25% with Anxiety and Depression
- 8% with an Eating Disorder
- 14% of Carls indicated intentional self-injury (non-suicidal) in the last 12 months.
- In the wake of the pandemic, we see other reported challenges to mental well-being including:
- 49% of Carls screen positive for loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale)
- 17% experience serious psychological distress (according to the Kessler 6 scale)
- 23% report experiencing high stress (on average) in the last 30 days
- Carleton is working to support student mental health through a variety of initiatives. The Office of Health Promotion, in particular, is addressing these areas through mental health initiatives including (but not limited to) the following programs:
- SWA Dog Therapy Program – With students experiencing loneliness, dog therapy provides a more-accessible entry point for students to find connection. Not only does interaction with a dog encourage a reduction in stress hormones (cortisol), but it lessens the anxiety that many people experience when determining how to navigate social situations.
- Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) – At Carleton, Carls help Carls. Each year, we train dozens of faculty, staff, and students to recognize (and respond to) the signs of a mental health challenge to help connect our community to support when they need it most.
- Koru Mindfulness Program – Developing Mindfulness skills has been shown to have a positive impact on our well-being. In particular, it can help us lower stress, be more present, have more self-compassion, and even get better sleep.
- SWA Dog Therapy Program – With students experiencing loneliness, dog therapy provides a more-accessible entry point for students to find connection. Not only does interaction with a dog encourage a reduction in stress hormones (cortisol), but it lessens the anxiety that many people experience when determining how to navigate social situations.