{"id":257836,"date":"2025-09-19T12:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T16:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&p=257836"},"modified":"2025-09-19T18:29:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T22:29:40","slug":"college-students-reports-of-depression-anxiety-suicidal-thoughts-continue-move-in-positive-direction","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/college-students-reports-of-depression-anxiety-suicidal-thoughts-continue-move-in-positive-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Severe Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Thoughts Continue to Decrease Among College Students\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSevere Depression, Anxiety, Suicidal Thoughts Continue to Decrease Among College Students\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Compared to 2022 data,\u00a0severe depression among students dropped from 23 to 18 percent and suicidal thoughts decreased from 15 to 11 percent in the 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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September 19, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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For the third year in a row, college students are reporting lower rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, according to the 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study<\/a>, the nation\u2019s largest survey of student mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual study is conducted by the Healthy Minds Network<\/a> led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health, the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, and Wayne State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024-2025 study received responses from more than 84,000 students from 135 colleges and universities and 9,000-plus faculty and staff members from 22 institutions\u2014the second year of surveying campus employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students\u2019 results showing continuing declines include severe depression dropping to 18 percent in 2025 from 23 percent in 2022 and suicidal thoughts decreasing to 11 percent this year from 15 percent three years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m encouraged by the national trends we\u2019ve seen over the past three years, but at the same time, prevalence remains high,\u201d says Sarah Lipson<\/a>, associate professor of health law, policy & management at BUSPH and a co-principal investigator of the study. \u201cOver one-third of students screened positive for clinically-significant symptoms of depression, for example. We still need to recognize the ongoing challenges students face, including loneliness and financial stress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasizes that continued attention and investment in public health approaches to student mental health are essential, \u201cnot only for student wellbeing, but for other key outcomes such as academic performance and persistence to graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study, which began in 2007, is web-based, confidential and tracks mental health trends and students\u2019 behaviors over time through questions about mental and emotional health, habits with alcohol and substances, use of mental health care and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While positive trends continue, levels of flourishing, or psychological well-being marked by self-esteem, purpose and optimism, dropped slightly to 36 percent after reaching 38 percent in 2024. Yet, while decreasing, more than half of students still reported loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study is funded by partnerships and participating universities and colleges. It provides comprehensive data to help institutions identify student mental health priorities, benchmark performance against peers, and evaluate programs while informing new services and advocacy efforts. The findings also support national analysis by researchers and policymakers working to understand trends and improve campus mental health systems, ultimately benefiting students, staff, families and broader communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key findings for students demonstrating improvement over time include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n