A Growing Crisis

Mental health is becoming a growing crisis among college students that is impacting their academic and co-curricular success. The Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated and accelerated that crisis. In our 2021 Fall Survey in which over 7,700 students responded, 33% identified emotional stress as the top reason they considered dropping out in the past six months. Mental health constitutes one of the single greatest issues facing students and their postsecondary success today. 

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41% Of Students Suffer From Depression, A +5% Increase Over The Fall 2019 Semester
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30.5% Of Students Reported Mental Health Impairing Their Academic Success, A 9% Increase Of The 2019 Fall Semester
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1 In 4 People Age 18 To 24 Seriously Contemplated Suicide In June 2020
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30% of MN Community and Technical College Reported That Mental Health Counseling Would Improve Their College Experience
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42.5% Of MN Community and Technical College Students Have Considered Stopping Their Courses In The Past 6 Months, The Top Reason: Emotional Stress (33%)
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Emotional Stress Was the #1 Reason Identified By Students For Why They Did Not Re-enroll For The Fall 2021 Semester

During the 2021 legislative session LeadMN worked with legislators to introduce and pass the MN College Mental Health Awareness Act, but more needs to be done. 

LeadMN Supports:

  1. Minnesota State's supplemental budget request for state funding for a mental health support platform for students to receive professional and peer to peer support that is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, expanded telepsychiatry services on a system wide scale, and expanded mental health training opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. 
  2. State funding to provide expanded counseling services at every Minnesota community and technical college.