According to survey data from the Association of Directors of University and University Counseling Centers (AUCCCD), counseling services are an increase in the number of students reporting mental health conditions, which is a key element for higher education students.
The association’s annual report, released on February 25, highlights the gradual increase in student demand for mental health services, but supports ongoing stress from clinicians and non-clinical staff through challenging working conditions.
Methodology
The survey included 14 responses from directors of 367 consulting centers from the United States and its territory. Most respondents worked at four-year institutions and urban campuses. The reporting period ranges from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
Student participation: While students continue to report high levels of mental health problems, student demand at some counseling centers is declining.
The majority of respondents at the four-year agency reported a decrease or no change in the number of unique clients seen (68%) and the number of appointments offered (58%). Among the two-year colleges, 33% reported seeing a decrease in the number of unique clients, and 43% reported providing a decrease in total appointments.
One in four consulting center directors (24%) said their centers did not meet the hassle of service needs.
About 11% of students at four-year institutions receive counseling services, while less than 5% of students at community colleges receive support from the counseling center. “The average proportion of smaller schools’ centers serves their enrollment population (8% to 19%) compared to the centers of large schools (7% to 8%),” the report said.
Student data show a correlation between student success and the use of counseling centers: 73% of clients reported that counseling services had a positive impact on their academic performance, while 71% said they helped them stay in school.
Staffing: The four-year university has 9.2 full-time clinical staff, while the average of community colleges is 4.5 employees. About 2% of the centers consisted of only one person, but that was down from the previous year, when 3.5% of the directors indicated they were a center for one person.
The diversity of directors completing the survey continued to increase, with 30% of respondents identified as people of color, up from 16% in the 2012-13 survey.
Staff turnover remains a focus of the University Consulting Center, with 12% of all non-training clinical positions and 10% of all non-driven positions over the past fiscal years. The main reasons for staff leaving positions are low salaries (48%) and working conditions (32%), although fewer employees cite reasons for leaving the field this year compared to previous surveys.
Embedded consulting services are still limited, with about 30% of institutions using counselors to work within other departments. Track and field athletics is the most common area for embedded clinicians to work, followed by specific schools, student affairs offices and living life.
Serve: Most clinical sessions were delivered in person (81%), followed by video (15%) and telephone (3%). This reflects the University Mental Health Data Center released earlier this year, which found that 64% of clients received only face-to-face consultations, while 13% received video-only care.
While a few centers do not have formal meeting restrictions (55%), 43% of institutions limit the number of meetings students can visit each year, with some flexibility in the model. Only 0.6% of respondents said their campuses had tough meeting restrictions, without exception.
Telemedicine therapy remains a popular product in institutions, with 53% of four-year institutions and 35% of community colleges hiring third-party vendors to provide services. Student use varies greatly, even in institutions of similar size, their average number of students participating was 453.
“In general, most directors report using less than desired or meeting their expectations regardless of the type of service provided by third-party vendors.”
The number of unique students who make crisis appointments throughout the center is 125, and the average number of crisis appointments is 166. The majority (65%) provide psychiatric services on campus or at counseling centers elsewhere at both locations.
Additionally, most respondents said their center provides formal or informal counseling services to the community.
Looking forward: Cindy M. Bruns, AUCCCD Investigation Coordinator, said that while the report focuses on the previous fiscal year, it is still necessary to continue to provide access to high-quality consulting services. “By fostering a supportive campus culture and ensuring mental health resources are available, the university can help students navigate the political and social environment while promoting resilience and well-being.”
Bruns said some consulting directors noted that students are experiencing “anxiety, uncertainty, threats to a sense of security and threats belonging to campus” due to federal actions, which could prompt an increase in the number of students seeking services.
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