University student counseling and mental health in the United States: Trends and challenges

This article reviews the status of the delivery of counseling and mental health services at colleges and universities in the United States. It provides an overview of historical and current trends of student mental health concerns and of the ways in which campus counseling services have responded to these challenges. Data from several sources are referenced to demonstrate both the increasing numbers of students seeking counseling services and the increasing severity of their concerns. Examples are provided for how these trends have influenced the delivery of counseling services and how they are changing college and university communities.