Supporting student mental health: a necessity for higher education institutions

Hélène Zapata
Apr 21
2 min read

Updated: Jun 17

“We can’t learn well if we’re not doing well.”It’s a simple, almost self-evident truth. And yet, it remained on the sidelines of higher education priorities for a long time.

Today, student mental health is a major issue—a human, educational, social, and strategic imperative.

A generation under pressure

Mental fatigue, chronic stress, performance anxiety, isolation, loss of meaning... The signals are clear, and so is the data. According to several studies conducted since the pandemic, nearly one in two students reports experiencing psychological distress. This affects not only their well-being but also their ability to learn, engage, and envision their future.

At a time when the professional world increasingly demands agility, resilience, and teamwork, it is paradoxical that young people are still often left to face their psychological struggles alone.

Why higher education institutions must act

Schools and universities play a key role:

• They are spaces of identity-building, socialization, and future projection.• They support young adults at a pivotal life stage—between adolescence and entry into the workforce.• They have concrete tools to create safer psychological environments.

The goal is not to turn schools into medical centers. It’s about better prevention, detection, guidance, and most importantly, normalizing mental health support as a legitimate part of the student journey.

What an institutions can do?

5 Key Action Areas

1. Train teaching staff to recognize and respondTeachers are often the first to spot subtle warning signs—drop in motivation, absenteeism, withdrawal, unusual behavior. Giving them tools to recognize and respond without judgment is essential.

2. Create accessible and visible listening spacesFree psychological support services, drop-in consultations, peer groups… Having trained professionals (clinical psychologists, social workers) is crucial—but students also need to know these services are available without shame or stigma.

3. Integrate mental health into the curriculumModules on stress management, emotional awareness, self-esteem, peer relationships, and career orientation offer vital prevention tools. Psychoeducation must become a key 21st-century life skill.

4. Promote community dynamics and solidarityConnection is a protective factor. Mentorship between cohorts, peer support networks, team-building events—anything that breaks isolation reinforces students’ internal resources.

5. Regularly assess the institution’s psychological climateInternal barometers, anonymous surveys, regular feedback: monitoring students’ mental well-being should become as standard as academic evaluations.

La santé mentale des étudiants, un enjeu de l'enseignement supérieur — Mental health, a priority for student exprience

At ESPÉ – the European School of Psychology, we’ve made student mental health a pedagogical priority

Here are just a few of our initiatives:

A dedicated module during integration week: “Better Self-Knowledge for Better Learning”, introducing cognitive, emotional, and social psychology basics.
Targeted communication and practical tips to normalize mental health support.
Career center sessions to help students identify their strengths and build self-esteem and employability.
A detection protocol with trained academic staff to identify early warning signs.
A community-wide Charter of Kindness, signed by all ESPÉ members, promoting listening, cooperation, and respect for each individual's pace.
A trusted network of mental health professionals, with financially supported sessions offered to students.

Because preparing tomorrow’s professionals isn’t just about knowledge transfer—it’s about helping them become balanced, confident adults who can care for themselves and others.