Interpreting Gaps in Student Mental Health Care Engagement

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Bay, J. (2026, January 27). Students trust mental health services—but few use them. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/health-wellness/2026/01/27/students-trust-mental-health-services-few-use-them

Main takeaways

  • Students report high trust in campus mental health services, yet utilization remains strikingly low.
  • Structural barriers (stigma, scheduling, visibility) outweigh lack of awareness.
  • Social connection and mentoring contexts may be critical leverage for access and equity.

Commentary

In a recent Inside Higher Ed article, Joshua Bay synthesizes findings from a large, national survey conducted by the Hi, How Are You Project and partners, highlighting a persistent paradox in campus mental health: trust does not translate into use. Drawing on responses from more than 11,000 students surveyed in fall 2025, the study shows that while 73 percent of students trust campus counseling services, only 18 percent access care on campus, despite 55 percent report receiving mental health treatment overall.

The research uses self-rated wellbeing measures to categorize students as thriving, maintaining, or struggling, revealing stark disparities. Thriving students report greater social connection and nearly three times the perceived ability to make time for care compared with struggling peers. By contrast, struggling students face compounded barriers, including fear of judgment (reported by 44 percent), limited schedules, and weaker ties to campus communities.

Importantly, the evidence suggests the gap is not social isolation per se, as most students report ample social opportunities, but rather the absence of psychologically safe, supportive contexts. Bay argues that large-scale awareness campaigns are insufficient without intentional, relational structures that reduce stigma and increase accessibility.

Implications for mentoring

Mentoring may function as a bridge between trust and use by normalizing help-seeking, strengthening connection, and guiding students toward timely, appropriate support. By approaching students’ holistic well-being and embedding wellness into ongoing relationships rather than isolated services, mentoring may reduce stigma and lower barriers to on-campus care.

Read the full piece here