Spotlight 2025
COVER STORY
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
Pronounced problems at the heart of a new initiative
More than 60 percent of college students nationwide meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem. And demand for services shows students at Colorado State University are requesting help at higher rates than those at other universities. In response, the CSU System Board of Governors has launched a new initiative to foster and support student mental health; the initiative builds on nationally recognized university resources.
FEATURES
High-tech help
Some students have mental health needs that do not require professional intervention; others have marked challenges but are reluctant to seek help from a clinic. A new type of technology, developed at Colorado State University and now used nationwide, fosters mental health and well-being with a digital tool that makes personalized care accessible even for those reluctant to seek it.
AgrAbility expands
It started decades ago to help farmers and ranchers with disabilities. Now, thanks to state legislation, the Colorado AgrAbility Project has expanded to support behavioral health in the state’s rural communities, where suicide rates outpace those of the general population. In addition to physical challenges, AgrAbility now focuses on mental health challenges and related concerns.
PERSPECTIVES
From the president
CSU President Amy Parsons notes that student success is the highest priority at Colorado State University, and mental health and well-being are central to academic achievement and personal growth. As the university proactively addresses mental health, students are better positioned to pursue their aspirations and contribute meaningfully to our world, she writes.
Rethinking mental health
CSU Provost Marion Underwood, a clinical psychologist who serves as the university’s chief academic officer, says everything in higher education depends on our minds. Amid rising concerns about mental health on campuses nationwide, it’s time to rethink aspects of academic life that may contribute to problems – from ingrained stigmas to “toxic rigor,” she writes.
Generation angst
Young people today are coping with unique stressors, writes Michele Faris, a licensed psychologist who worked for decades in counseling at CSU. Growing up in a post-9/11 world, today’s college students have been exposed to increasing gun violence, political strife, rising financial concerns, a global pandemic, and pervasive social media. These and other factors contribute to significant anxiety and other concerns, Faris says.