Articles and research from our team on the future of mental healthcare for young adults.

Last year, Mantra published an inaugural provider burnout White Paper, which revealed a worrisome status quo: in college counseling centers, 9 in 10 clinicians reported experiencing burnout. This is 12% higher than the average burnout levels reported in a large-scale survey of North American psychiatrists.   

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a paradigm shift for mental health care needs. COVID-related challenges and anxieties across the population have contributed to severity of mental health issues. Beyond a taxing workload, the burnout clinicians experience is often compounded by the emotional strain that mental health providers are navigating themselves. 

Building on our 2020 provider burnout survey, we collected insights from college counseling center staff. In what follows, we review 2021 findings about the state of burnout amongst college mental health clinicians and directors. We then offer key takeaways to inform counseling center priorities in the coming year. 

The state of provider burnout in college counseling centers in 2021

Contact: Don Martelli at 617-413-6773 or don@thebelfortgroup.com

NEW YORK, November 30, 2022 – Penn State University has expanded its partnership with Mantra Health, the nation’s leading digital mental health clinic for young adults, as part of its commitment to provide students with clinically comprehensive mental health services. Mantra Health will now work with Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics to provide mental health support to its student-athletes.

Penn State University established a partnership with Mantra Health in 2020 for psychiatric services, and is now expanding that relationship to provide student-athletes with evidence-based therapy. Working collaboratively, Mantra Health and Penn State Athletics will now be able to provide more than 850 student-athletes with virtual therapy that’s accessible on nights and weekends. 

“Less than half of female student-athletes feel as though their mental health is a priority to their athletic departments, and that’s not nearly good enough,” said Ed Gaussen, Co-Founder and CEO of Mantra Health. “We have clinically-guided therapists trained on the issues facing student-athletes, who are not only navigating the classroom and the field, but facing additional barriers to care, including busy schedules, financial responsibilities, and stigma associated with help-seeking behaviors. Mantra Health is working closely with Penn State Athletics to combat this and ensure that all student-athletes are not only aware of the services available, but are empowered to use them.” 

Depression and anxiety among student-athletes are twice as common as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an NCAA report. In addition, less than half of student-athletes said they would be comfortable seeking mental healthcare on campus, and only one-ten college athletes utilize professional mental healthcare.

“Support for strong mental health is personal to me and critical to our department," said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "We have to do our part to change the way mental health is viewed and to combat the stigma surrounding it. More importantly, mental health plays a critical role in holistic student-athlete wellness and development, and we encourage our student-athletes to make it a priority and to seek help when they need it. Our efforts today will impact our student-athletes for years to come.”

Student-athletes in Penn State Athletics, which houses 31 NCAA Division I teams, will now have access to a wide network of diverse digital mental health providers.

“Student-athletes are often celebrated for their achievements on the field, but that does mean they are immune from struggling with mental health issues. At Mantra Health, we are eager to foster an environment and support system that will help these athletes thrive physically, academically, and emotionally,” said Gaussen.

Mantra Health is an award-winning digital mental health clinic on a mission to improve access to evidence-based mental healthcare for young adults. Through augmenting high-quality clinical services with software and design, we aim to improve the mental health of over 40 million young adults through partnerships with higher education institutions and health insurance plans. Mantra Health was named a Mental & Behavioral Health Rising Star at the 2022 UCSF Health Hub Digital Health Awards. The Mantra program has been deployed across 105 campuses with over 800,000 students, including Penn State, MIT, Cornell, and Miami Dade College.

Prioritizing Student-Athlete Mental Health: Penn State University Athletics Expands Partnership with Mantra Health

At this year’s HLTH Conference, Mantra Health was honored to win a 2022 UCSF Health Hub Digital Health 'Rising Star' Award in the category of Mental & Behavioral Health, which recognizes outstanding health technologies and innovations that are transforming mental healthcare. 

Chosen among hundreds of exceptional companies, this award is a testament to the Mantra Health team – and community of supporters – who work day-in and day-out to ensure that college and university partners, clinical providers, and students receive the resources, technologies, and services they need to truly thrive. 

“We have built an incredible team of creatives, engineers, clinical providers, and leaders who are not only driven by the company’s mission to provide young adults with accessible, equitable, and quality mental health and wellness solutions, but are eager to innovative, collaborate, and work tenaciously to improve mental health in the higher ed community,” said Ed Gaussen, Co-Founder and CEO of Mantra Health. “Every member of the Mantra Health team deserves recognition for their contributions, which have, no doubt, improved the quality of care we deliver. You won’t find a more deserving team.”

College and university presidents have declared the mental health of faculty, staff, and students a top priority, as rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality among students continues to rise, signaling a pressing need for more comprehensive mental health programs and crisis prevention strategies that safeguard the community and its faculty, staff, and students. 

“As a clinically-informed digital mental health company, we understand that Mantra Health has a responsibility to innovate, push boundaries, expand our service offerings, and strengthen our clinical excellence to ensure that quality mental health services are made accessible and equitable for every student,” said Gaussen. “I look forward to meeting the ever-growing needs of the campus – and blazing trails in the field of young adult mental health care.”

Mantra Health has grown exponentially since its founding in 2018. We partner with colleges and universities, as well as health insurance plans, to provide students with virtual therapy, psychiatry, 24/7 crisis care, and wellness content. Our mental health solutions have been deployed across 105 college and university campuses, including Penn State University, Miami Dade College, Colgate University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others – and we are trusted by more than 800,000 students. 

“Mantra Health is committed to building quality mental health solutions that scale effectively across many different campuses,” said Matt Kennedy, Co-Founder and COO of Mantra Health. “Being recognized as a ‘Rising Star,’ it is imperative that we continue to expand our existing systems, processes, and services to better serve our partners, providers, and patients. This is an exciting and critical time for mental health innovation, but Mantra Health is ready to lead the industry forward.” 

To learn more about Mantra Health, a clinically-informed digital mental health provider for young adults, and how you can partner with us to build a campus-tailored program for students, contact us at partner@mantrahealth.com. 

Mantra Health Recognized as a ‘Rising Star’ in Mental and Behavioral Health

A mental health crisis occurs when an individual’s behaviors put them at risk of harming themselves or others. The individual may experience limits to their day-to-day level of functioning.

With 75% of lifetime mental health issues becoming present by age 24, there are hundreds of thousands of students experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidality, and/or psychosis, among other mental health concerns. Being able to recognize and identify a student in crisis is vital for protecting the health and well-being of the individual, their families, and the community at large. 

As a campus leader responsible for the health and well-being of students, it’s important to be able to identify a student at risk and understand signs and symptoms, who faces increased risk, and how to support a student who may be undergoing a mental health crisis or emergency. 

What Does a Mental Health Crisis Look Like?

A mental health crisis can occur at any time, anywhere, which is why it’s important for faculty, staff, administrators, students, and other community members to be able to recognize those at risk. 

Common signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis include:

Inability to complete daily tasks (i.e., bathing, dressing, attending class)

Contemplation of death, suicidal ideation, or a suicide attempt

Social withdrawal, isolation, or avoidant behaviors

Engaging in impulsive, aggressive, and/or reckless acts and behaviors

Rapid change to mood and inability to regulate mood responses

From 2013 to 2021, rates of anxiety and depression among students have increased 110% and 135% respectively, with the highest rates among racial and ethnic minority students.

Who is Most at Risk for a Mental Health Crisis?

Mental health crises are inevitable and can occur with depressive episodes, trauma experiences, eating disorders, substance use, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, among other situations. Nearly 73% of all college students experience some sort of mental health crisis during their college careers. While they can occur on any campus, by anyone, some students may be more likely to experience a crisis.

Studies have found that students identifying in the following groups are at a higher risk of a mental health crisis:

Racial or ethnic minority students – Factors contributing to mental health problems among college students of color include experiences of microaggressions, discrimination, imposter syndrome, and negative campus climate.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community – LGBTQ+ students have an increased propensity to stress related to having a marginalized social identity, which can impact their mental health. The risk is even higher for transgender and nonbinary students who may not be able to find or access identify-affirming care. 

First generation college students (FGCS) – FGCS may experience stress from lack of academic support, absence of support from family and friends, and difficulty with cultural transitions.

International students – As a minority on a college campus, international students have needs that may be overlooked by their campus or university. International students often have a hard time navigating the medical system and are less motivated to seek psychological services and may lack access to resources due to financial, language, and cultural barriers. 

Student-athletes – These students are pressured to perform inside and outside of the classroom. They may also face stigma around mental health and help-seeking behaviors, have trouble finding care that meets their needs, and are unable to access counseling services during traditional hours due to their challenging schedules. 

Students with a mental health diagnosis also have an increased risk of experiencing a mental health crisis, as they may have a hard time managing day-to-day stressors in conjunction with their mental health problems. 

Students, in general, are dealing with a lot. In addition to experiencing normal college stressors, students are also navigating and adjusting to technology and social media, relationship difficulties, economic stress, eco-anxiety, and an unknown future. They are making major life decisions on what they will do with the rest of their lives – and yet, the brain does not fully mature until the age of 26, long after many students have graduated. For this reason, many young adults are acting based on feelings, impulse, and pleasure-seeking desires. 

What Should You Do in a Crisis Situation?

If you recognize someone in crisis, remain calm. Speak in an even-toned voice. Do not overreact. You want to offer options of care to the individual. Ask if there’s a family member or friend you can reach out to; ask if they are working with a mental health professional; ask if they have a safety plan. If the individual cannot name anyone, call campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and/or a crisis line. This could be the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911. You can also offer to walk the student to the counseling center. When all else fails, be patient. 

How Do You Know If It’s a Crisis or Emergency?

A mental health crisis is different from a mental health emergency, but the former can lead to the latter. In an emergency, an individual is experiencing an acute disturbance of behavior, such as:

Life-threatening situation or event that places them or someone else at an immediate risk of harm 

To protect the safety of the student and the campus community, every campus should establish mental health crisis and emergency protocols. If you’re working with external mental health providers, including telehealth providers or local community providers, make sure they’re informed of campus-specific procedures so virtual crisis and emergency situations can be properly and safely de-escalated. 

With mental health concerns continuing to rise across college campuses, colleges and universities need to act now, if they haven’t already, to establish crisis prevention strategies and protocols. 

When working with partners, know that Mantra Health shares medical decision-making, screens for, assesses, and identifies students at risk, and implements virtual crisis response plans that support on-campus protocols and procedures. 

We want colleges and universities to trust in our ability to aid in the deescalation of mental health crises and emergencies, which is why we work so closely with our partners to ensure that all students are protected in our care. To learn more about emergency response best practices and how we approach them, download this guide.

- Miriam Egan, MEd, MA, LPC, LCADC, NCC, Mantra Health Provider

According to a 2022 College Pulse survey, more than half of students reported their mental health as “fair” or “poor,” but only 13 percent said they used on-campus counseling services. When asked if they knew where they could seek help on campus if they were struggling with their mental health, only 26 percent strongly agreed that they did. 

The reasons why students don’t seek out mental health services are varied. A 2020 study published in the journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, sought to answer this question and found that limited knowledge of mental health, perceived stigma and embarrassment, financial costs, and availability of resources all play a role. 

Just because student’s aren’t utilizing mental health services doesn’t mean they don’t need them. Here’s what colleges and universities can do to improve utilization rates:

Awareness campaigns can be used to combat mental health stigma on campus and remind students that free support is available. This is, especially, relevant during stressful times of the year, including during midterms and finals – or even in the first few weeks when students are facing various peer pressures and undergoing high levels of social anxiety. 

Research shows mental health awareness campaigns are effective at reducing stigma toward help-seeking behaviors. They should be used by colleges and universities to debunk misinformation, increase knowledge and awareness of mental health issues, and remind students that they don’t have to suffer alone. 

We recommend doing campaigns around mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality, and focusing on signs and symptoms, treatment options, and pathways to care, so students feel empowered to seek support when they’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, depressed, or are unable to function in their day-to-day lives.

Build Marketing Initiatives Around Mental Health Services

“You want to reach students where they are and create enough awareness of mental health resources so students will utilize the services when they need them,” says Kelly Carleton, VP of Program Success at Mantra Health. “Email and social media campaigns sent out to the student body announcing that these services are available and how to sign up for them are very effective.”

She also suggests pinning a banner on Blackboard or similar learning management systems so students are consistently reminded that mental health services are available at no cost.  

Reaching students isn’t always easy, so go where they are. Start a social media account for the counseling center. Put up flyers in highly-populated areas, as well as nearby establishments, including coffee shops and libraries. Put ads in the school newsletter or student magazines. Encourage student groups to share information about new mental health offerings as they become available. 

Host Free Mental Health Workshops and Events

Students may not feel comfortable walking into the counseling center or signing up for a one-on-one session, but they may attend a free webinar on mental health issues and pressing concerns like test anxiety, financial stress, time management, grief, or self-care. 

“This can humanize providers and help them become more integrated into the conversation around mental health and wellness on campus,” Carleton says.

If your counseling staff is overburdened and unable to provide these workshops, you can work with third-party providers, including telehealth companies, to make these available to students. Ideally, the providers running the workshops are also available for one-on-one sessions should these students decide to seek out professional support. 

Telehealth services have been shown to be just as effective as in-person care and many students prefer this option. Telehealth can help extend counseling service hours, which are traditionally only available between 9am and 5pm, ensuring that students get support where and when they need it. It can also help reduce wait times to care. 

When working with a telehealth provider, make sure you’re gaining access to a diverse pool of providers who practice cultural humility and offer unique specializations, such as trauma-informed and gender-affirming care. Students often want providers who match their own background, identity, race, gender, or shared lived experiences – and knowing that diverse providers are available will encourage more students to utilize the telehealth offering. 

We know how hard it is to reach students, which is why our Partner Success team works closely with colleges and universities to ensure that students know about existing services, have self-referral options, and are supported during breaks and in the summer months when many go home to other states. We work closely with our partners to build tailored care offerings, including 24/7 campus-specific crisis hotlines and student mental health and wellness workshops.

“Mantra is unique in how they relate to our students,” said Lourdes Perez, EdD, Director of Student Services Operations at Miami Dade College. “The workshops that Mantra provided were very well attended. I had the best attendance I’ve had compared to any other workshop that I’ve provided.” 

While rates of mental health service utilization have increased among college students over the past decade, many barriers still exist that prevent these young adults from getting the help they need. Consider working with a mental health provider that knows the challenges faced by students and works collaboratively with on-campus staff to really tailor the mental health resources and services to the campus.

To learn more about Mantra Health and our offerings, check out our University page. 

How to Improve Utilization Rates of Mental Health Services

HUNTINGDON, November 2nd, 2022 - Mantra Health, the preeminent digital mental health provider on a mission to improve access to evidence-based mental healthcare for young adults, announced a partnership agreement with Juniata College, a private liberal arts college in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1876 as a co-educational school, Juniata College’s student body of approximately 1,600 undergraduate students will now have access to telehealth services provided by Mantra Health.

“Changing lifestyles, increased workloads, new responsibilities, and interpersonal relationships often result in high-stress levels for students and large caseloads for college counseling centers,” Ed Gaussen, Mantra Health’s CEO and Co-Founder explained. “Our mission is to relieve counseling centers of the pressure they face and enable them to focus on full campus mental wellness. Additionally, students can make appointments with clinicians of diverse backgrounds during their college schedules."

A 2021 study by the National Alliance on Mental Health reported that 57.1% of Pennsylvanians aged 12-17 with depression did not receive treatment in 2020. These same students are attending colleges, such as Juniata, and Mantra Health’s platform is designed to address the gaps in clinical services; with a focus on psychiatric care.

“Since our inception, we’ve found a great need amongst liberal arts colleges in rural areas where the campus might be located in a psychiatric provider desert. Mantra Health is excited to be partnering with Juniata College’s counseling center to collaborate on the care of their students,” Gaussen added.

"Students' mental health must be prioritized,” Jonathan Reveley-Cohen, Juniata College Lead Counselor, stated. “We hope that this new partnership with Mantra Health will help Juniata College maximize access to counseling resources, increase diversity within the pool of clinical providers, and provide students with more flexibility in accessing mental health services outside of the traditional, on-campus business hours.”

In addition to the counseling centers' in-person services, Juniata College will now provide telehealth services through the Mantra Health partnership. 

The Glaeser Counseling Service at Juniata College offers confidential individual, couple, and group counseling, drug and alcohol counseling, assessments, and short-term therapy to all full-time students. Counseling is available by appointment, and initial appointments can be scheduled through the Online Portal.

Mantra Health’s mission is to improve the mental health of over 20 million university and college students. Now is the time to democratize access to evidence-based mental healthcare through an integrated approach, working in tandem with counseling centers. Mantra Health’s platform enables colleges and universities to offer critical support and scale as needs arise.

Press Release: Partnership to Increase Mental Health Access for Juniata College Students

How to Support Financially-Stressed Students

In a single year, 31.8% of undergraduate students accept federal loans, with the average student facing $37,787 of student debt when they graduate. Not only are students taking out loans to get through college, but they’re taking out credit cards, accruing medical bills, and battling additional social determinants of health such as food insecurity and housing instability. 

Financial strain is causing high levels of stress and anxiety – and preventing many students from graduating on time, if at all. 

To prevent student dropouts and protect the mental health of students who are struggling to maintain a budget, cope with financial stressors, and manage stress levels, colleges and universities need to offer more mental health interventions, specifically ones that target financial stress, support money management skills, and fit into the schedule of students who are part- or full-time workers.

One study of more than 3,000 adults ages 20-34 found that 42% dropped out of higher education due to financial reasons. 

Prior to the pandemic, 36% of 43,000 college students were facing food and housing insecurity, a number that has continued to rise and is bound to increase as we face an economic recession. Not only are many students paying high rent and living costs, but some are experiencing homelessness and sleeping in cars rather than dorms or apartments. 

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University conducted the #RealCollege Survey from 2015-2021 of over 500,000 students and found that three in five students experienced basic needs insecurity – and 35% experienced at least moderate anxiety.

Tuition continues to rise, year after year, forcing many students to take out loans, work part-time, or forgo college to undergo trade school, take a job, or choose an alternative path such as military or entrepreneurship. Among the students who take out student loans, 54% have admitted to experiencing a mental health problem related to this debt. 

For these reasons, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for higher education institutions to increase their enrollment numbers and retain students, many of whom are under significant distress and in need of more comprehensive mental health support. 

How to Support Financially-Stressed Students 

A recent BestColleges survey reveals that 44% of students have considered leaving their college or university because of the financial burdens, even while 45% of students anticipate that some of their student loans will be forgiven by the government. 

These financially-stressed students need more mental health solutions to handle the stress, anxiety, and isolation that comes with college life. Here’s what colleges and universities can do today to better support students in financial distress:

Create opportunities for social connection and inclusion. Having a social support system is invaluable for students, especially international students and students living away from family and friends. Hosting free events on campus or virtually that encourage students to meet and mingle, conducting school-wide surveys to understand students needs, and building safe spaces on campus can help students connect with others.

Offer free financial literacy courses. Financial budgeting isn’t often taught in school, but every student could benefit from this, especially those that are working, paying bills, and taking out student loans which will eventually need to be repaid. Other financial literacy courses could focus on debt management or planning for life post-graduation when many students will be on their own financially.

Offer free mental health workshops. The more resilient the student, the more prepared they are to handle stress. Mental health workshops can teach students how to develop healthy coping mechanisms, how to respond to stress effectively, and how to recognize signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, or suicidality. 

Expand counseling center hours. Many students don’t have time to visit the counseling center during the traditional 9-5 hours – and can’t afford to visit local community centers. Working with a telehealth provider, colleges and universities can not only extend those hours to nights and weekends, but also offer virtual sessions, which may be conducive to students who are overwhelmed with obligations.

Invest in psychiatric care. Counseling centers may not offer psychiatric care or may not have enough psychiatric providers available to meet student demand. This prevents some students from seeking care or forces them to go outside of the campus to access local resources, if they’re available, which can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. 

Financial stress shouldn’t prevent students from excelling on campus, but in far too many cases, it does. This can be prevented and addressed, if colleges and universities are willing to allocate funding and resources to overall mental health and well-being. 

We, at Mantra Health, want to enhance the college experience and support students in their academic pursuits, which is why we partner with colleges and universities, to bring more accessible, diverse, and evidence-based mental health care to campus. 

Learn more about our approach to mental health and how we can work with your university to your existing mental health offerings. 

Food for Thought

Articles and research from our team on the future of mental healthcare for young adults.

The state of provider burnout in college counseling centers in 2021

Prioritizing Student-Athlete Mental Health: Penn State University Athletics Expands Partnership with Mantra Health

Mantra Health Recognized as a ‘Rising Star’ in Mental and Behavioral Health

What is a Mental Health Crisis?

How to Improve Utilization Rates of Mental Health Services

Press Release: Partnership to Increase Mental Health Access for Juniata College Students

How to Support Financially-Stressed Students