The overall mental health of college students is continuing to improve year-by-year, according to an organization that tracks students across 135 colleges and universities.

The University of Michigan’s School of Public Health since 2007 has conducted an annual Healthy Minds Study to survey students’ rates of anxiety and depression.

That marks declining rates in the study for three consecutive years, including 2025.

The University of South Carolina and Allen University are two Columbia-area schools that participate in the studies.

Rates of severe depression symptoms and anxiety have all dropped, according to this year’s results. 

The highest rates in the study were gathered in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression fell from 44% in 2022 to 37% this year. Reports of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms dropped from 37% to 32%.

Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, co-principal investigator for the Healthy Minds Network and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in a statement that digital and mobile counseling services are becoming popular with university and college students.

“While overall access to mental health services seems to be similar to previous years, the good news is that students are accessing an increasingly diverse array of resources,” Eisenberg said.

But rates are still high despite decreasing. It points to the reality of being a college student in modern times.

USC senior Jack Harrington said being a college student is a lot more than just going to class and taking exams.

“The best way I deal with my schedule is sometimes you have to have hard conversations with people,” Harrington said. “You have to have priorities and tell people, ‘I can’t be there,’ instead of trying to accept everything.”

Campuses across the country have` placed a great emphasis on bettering their students’ mental health. In response, students have been using use the resources provided for them at higher rates each year. 

The Center for Student Health and Well-Being on USC’s campus is home to counseling and psychiatric services for students. 

The center conducts weekly events on campus focused on mental health repair. Students can make appointments with the center’s counselors or attend group counseling sessions held in the building.

The building’s lobby uses stress-reducing colors on the carpet and furniture. The lobby also has comfortable couches, outdoor views, natural light and greenery designed to relax visitors while promoting self-care. 

There are many students that don’t ever see the lobby during their time at school.

USC student Ethan Turkel considers himself one of those students. Turkel is a member of the USC Club Tennis team and vice-president of the Gamecock Bowling Club. 

“I feel like it’s my problem,” Turkel said. “When I do bad on something, I think that I can just work through it. I should be able to work through it myself.” 

Turkel was unaware that USC offered psychiatry and counseling. He was pleased that people were able to receive the care they needed. 

“Help is always a good option,” Turkel said. “(Counseling) would help more of the students here.”