Colleges Brace for New Wave of Students with Heightened Mental Health Needs

NATICK, Mass., Colleges across the country are bracing for a new wave of students with heightened mental health needs, according to a recent survey by Uwill. The survey, which polled over 1,000 high school and college seniors, revealed that these students are entering a new academic year with a greater sense of emotional strain and different expectations for support.

Only 41% of high school seniors rated their mental health as "very good" or "good," highlighting a significant shift in the emotional well-being of the next generation of college students. The study found that twice as many high school seniors (26%) than college seniors (12%) are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for weekly discussions on relationships and emotional issues. Among these students, 21% of high school seniors cited a lack of human support as a reason for seeking AI guidance, compared to just 7% of college seniors.

Erin Andrew, Uwill’s vice president of clinical affairs, stated, “Colleges are inheriting a mental health crisis, as thousands of students will arrive on campus with a need for robust services. Students are feeling isolated and are looking for help navigating a rapidly changing world. This research raises critical questions for colleges that must serve a generation of students who have never known a life without an iPhone.”

Key findings from the survey include:

- About 28% of high school seniors reported a decline in their mental health over the past three years. - Only 19% of respondents felt very or extremely prepared for their next step. Career or job uncertainty was a top stressor for 46% of college seniors. - More than half of undergraduate men (55%) were concerned about career or job uncertainty, compared to 39% of undergraduate women. - Trust in institutions was low, with only 7% of students trusting Congress, 6% the President, and 10% the Supreme Court to act in their best interest. Similarly, only 7% trusted the news media, and 5% trusted big tech companies. Health care providers, scientists, and educational institutions ranked highest, but none were trusted by a majority of students. - Financial pressure was a significant stressor. Nearly 40% of college seniors reported working more than 21 hours per week, and 39% identified financial concerns as a top stressor. Forty-seven percent of first-generation college seniors said financial concerns were a top stressor.

Michael London, Uwill’s founder and CEO, noted, "The public mood around technology is shifting as parents, educators, and policymakers ask harder questions about the effects of constant connectivity and social media use on mental health. This survey brings those concerns into sharper focus. They must be prepared to support a generation arriving on campus with greater mental health needs and fewer trusted places to turn."

The survey, conducted by College Pulse in June 2026, included a nationally representative sample of 1,020 students, rising high school seniors and rising undergraduate seniors from four-year colleges and universities across the United States. The results were weighted to reflect the U.S. college and high school student population.

Uwill, a leading mental health and wellness solution for schools, attributes its success to its commitment to supporting every student as quickly as possible. In 2025, Uwill was recognized as the #79 fastest-growing private company in the U.S. according to Inc., and it ranked as the #2 fastest-growing company in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal.