Mental Health Services and Career Services: The Importance of Support Services On Campus
- Danielle
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Essential campus services students don't know to ask about
Here's a fact that might surprise you: According to a 2023 report by Tyton Partners, 60% of college students are unaware of the full scope of services offered at their institution.
And it gets worse! Research published by the National Institutes of Health found that while 90% of college students experience problems like stress, anxiety, and depression during their college years, only 15% actually seek help from available support services. 😬
Translation: The resources exist, students desperately need them, but somehow there's this massive gap in between.
When touring colleges, it's easy to get caught up in the shiny stuff like beautiful dining halls, state-of-the-art gyms, that gorgeous new library. But the services that truly support student success? They often happen behind the scenes in offices you'll walk right past without a second thought.
Over the next few weeks, we're covering essential campus services that deserve your attention during college tours. Starting today with mental health services and career services.
Mental Health & Counseling Services
Given that 90% of students experience stress, anxiety, or depression during college, mental health support is essential. Yet the Tyton Partners survey found that only 33% of students even knew their campus had a student health clinic!
🎤 Here's what you need to ask during your visit:
How many counseling sessions can students access per semester, and are they included in tuition?
What's the typical wait time for an initial appointment? (Anything over 2 weeks is a red flag!)
Are crisis services available 24/7?
How does the campus work to reduce stigma around seeking mental health support?
🔎 Pay close attention to how openly colleges discuss these services. Students indicated higher levels of belonging if they felt their institution cared about their mental health. If a school is hiding or downplaying mental health resources, that tells you something about their priorities.
Career Services
When students were asked what services matter most in their decision to re-enroll next semester, career services didn't top the list.
But here's the thing: career planning shouldn't start senior year when you're desperately sending out resumes. It should start freshman year! 💼
Strong career services offices help students explore majors, find internships, build resumes, practice interviews, and connect with employers throughout their entire college experience.
💬 Questions to ask on your tour:
Can students start using career services during their freshman year?
How many career fairs do you host per year, and which industries are typically represented?
Do you help students find internships, or just full-time jobs after graduation?
What's your job placement rate for recent graduates in my intended major?
The Real Problem: Nobody Knows What's Available
What struck me most about this research is the massive disconnect between what institutions offer and what students actually know exists.
College employees could identify support services at rates as high as 98%, while students? Way, way behind.
And get this: the Tyton Partners report found a direct correlation between awareness of support services and feelings of belonging. Students who knew about available resources felt more connected to their campus community.
So this isn't just about whether services exist, it's about whether students know they exist and feel comfortable using them.
Look for services available from day one and with proactive outreach to students.
The College Visit Journal has a dedicated checklist for support services on every campus you visit. By documenting which services are available, their hours, wait times, and how they're actually promoted to students, you can compare how different schools invest in making sure students know about and use these resources.
P.S. When your student faces challenges (and they will, because 90% of students do!), you want them at a school where seeking help is normalized, accessible, and well-publicized.
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