Self-Reported Rates of High-Risk Mental Health Concerns Remain Steady Among College Students

• Among college students and college graduates (ages 20-28), data suggest more frequent conversations with both parents and peers about mental health is associated with positive outcomes
   

(May 8, 2025) – UnitedHealthcare today announced new survey findings from its third annual College Student and Graduate Behavioral Health Report. The survey data reveals that despite an overall decline among college students in self-reported mental or behavioral health concerns¹ for the first time in three years (69% in 2022; 70% in 2023; 60% in 2024), the rates of eating disorders, suicidal ideation and intent, and substance abuse disorder remain consistent.²

The survey also explored mental and behavioral health experiences among college graduates (ages 20-28) and their transition from college to post graduation.

Among both student and graduate cohorts, trends emerged when it came to holding conversations with trusted adults and friends:

• Talking to a friend influenced their willingness to seek mental or behavioral health care (48% for college students and 54% for college graduates) more than talking to a trusted adult (44% and 37%, respectively), among those who sought help or know someone who did.
• Consistent with previous survey results, both college students and college graduates who engaged in more frequent conversations with their parents about their mental health reported higher rates of positive outcomes. These include feelings of support, feeling heard and understood and strengthening their relationship with their parents.
   

“During the transition into adulthood, young people can face multiple demands and stressors that may negatively impact their mental well-being,” said Dr. Nicole Brady, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources. “Universities, parents and guardians, health care providers and health plans need to work together to help support our young adults and help provide them with the resources they may need to navigate to the appropriate care, especially as serious mental health concerns remain.”

• College students and college graduates self-report experiencing similar rates of mental or behavioral health concerns/conditions (60% vs 63%), but more than half of college graduates (52%) say their mental or behavioral health has “improved” since graduation.
• College graduates are seeking help for these concerns more than college students (48% vs. 43%) and discussing mental health with parents more often (74% vs. 65%).

• For college students, the “parent perception gap” – the discrepancy between the mental or behavioral health challenges young adults self-report and what parents believe their children are experiencing – is at its narrowest (6%) since 2022 (compared to 16% in 2022 and 21% in 2023). However, that gap more than doubles (14%) for college graduates and parents.
   

“As an organization dedicated to mobilizing youth and young adults to help champion a new era of mental health, we know how important it is to meet this new generation where they are. Through our work, we seek to not only foster dialogue and share actionable resources, but to help build a movement that truly helps to improve mental health norms for all," said Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds. “As young people transition from high school to college and beyond, the power of conversation with parents, trusted adults and friends is clear. This data reinforces the role we can all play in helping young people find the support they need.”

Providing support to people to help them find the care they may need is essential to mental and behavioral health care. UnitedHealthcare is proud to work with industry leading mental health organizations such as Hazel Health and to help support United Health Foundation’s partnership with Active Minds.

Additionally, UnitedHealthcare provides a broad range of behavioral health offerings. This includes digital self-care tools such as Calm Health, coaching, 24/7 mental health support lines for in-the-moment support visits, family support, employee assistance programs, in-person and virtual visits, and more, allowing individuals to access support in a variety of ways. UnitedHealthcare also offers parent and youth conversation starter cards that are designed to help parents talk to their kids about mental well-being and spark conversations that move past one-word answers.

For more information about behavioral health resources, visit UHC.com and UnitedHealthcare Student Resources, the student health insurance division of UnitedHealthcare. To explore additional data, insights and trends, access the full report here.

About the College Student and Graduate Behavioral Health Survey and Report

Commissioned by UnitedHealthcare and Conducted by YouGov, the College Student and Graduate Behavioral Health Report surveyed a total sample of 2,037, including 516 U.S. college students, 509 parents of college students, 507 recent college graduates (ages 20-28 and graduated since 2018) and 505 parents of college graduates. Fieldwork was undertaken between Oct. 21 – Nov. 1, 2024. The survey was carried out online.