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A New Survey of College Faculty Reveals High Frequency of Student Mental Health Concerns
A recent survey conducted by Course Hero, a popular course-material website, shows that college faculty frequently receive requests for help with mental health issues from their students. Of the 1,002 faculty respondents, 46% reported that their students approach them with mental health concerns multiple times per month or more often.
Survey Details and Demographics
The survey encompassed a diverse sample of college faculty from across the country. The respondents were comprised of 59% faculty from four-year institutions, 31% from two-year schools, and a small percentage from trade schools or multiple institutions. The gender distribution was 62% men and 38% women. Additionally, the respondents were evenly split between public (55%) and private (45%) colleges, and included tenured faculty (49%), tenure-track faculty (24%), and contingent or other temporary faculty (28%).
Improvement in Faculty Morale
A positive trend in faculty morale was observed compared to a previous Course Hero survey conducted in September 2020. While the earlier survey found that approximately 40% of college faculty were considering leaving their job due to the impact of the pandemic, the new survey indicated a substantial improvement, with only 28% of respondents expressing a desire to leave their job within the next year.
Furthermore, over three-quarters of faculty respondents remained optimistic or very optimistic about the future state of their institution, despite financial challenges faced by some colleges and universities. The majority (80%) felt positive or very positive about their career prospects.
However, gender differences emerged when it came to reasons for leaving academia. Stress and burnout were cited more frequently by women faculty (52%) compared to men (38%), while compensation was mentioned by 52% of women and 44% of men as a reason to leave the profession.
Faculty’s Role in Addressing Student Mental Health Concerns
The survey highlighted student mental health as a major issue concerning faculty. Nearly half of the respondents (45%) reported that their students frequently ask for mental health-based accommodations or work extensions at least once a month, with 21% receiving such requests on a weekly basis or more frequently. An interesting age disparity was observed, with 33% of faculty aged 58 and older stating that students never cited mental health when requesting extensions or accommodations.
The survey also explored faculty members’ personal experiences with mental health concerns. On average, 43% reported facing a personal mental health issue themselves or knowing a faculty member who did so more than once a month in the last six months. Age-related differences were again apparent, with 65% of Baby Boomers or older faculty reporting no mental health issues, compared to 61% of Millennials and 41% of Gen X faculty who reported concerns occurring at least multiple times a month.
Supporting Faculty and Students
The findings from the survey reaffirm the severity of students’ mental health problems and the increasing need for support. Another study mentioned in the survey, the Healthy Minds survey, revealed that over 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, marking a 50% increase since 2013. Notably, 44% reported symptoms of depression, 37% experienced anxiety, and 15% acknowledged contemplating suicide – the highest rate recorded in the survey’s 15-year history.
While students are seeking more professional help for mental health issues, faculty members are often the first point of contact for these concerns. Consequently, specialized training like mental health first aid is crucial in equipping faculty with early intervention techniques and a better understanding of mental health challenges.
According to Sean Michael Morris, the Vice President of Academics at Course Hero, supporting faculty with appropriate resources and fostering professional communities enables them to effectively support students while also prioritizing their own well-being.
