Students are seeking more assistance for their mental health since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s new: A study by the CDC found that the percentage of adults getting mental health treatment from 2019 to 2021 rose from 19.2% to 21.6%.

• The group who sought out mental health treatment the most were those aged 18-44, at a rate of 23.2%

Why it matters: Georgia Southern continues this trend of increase for mental health treatment among young adults, per numbers from the Counseling Center. 

• From 2019 to 2020, students attended a total of 8812 appointments.
• From 2020 to 2021, students attended a total of 9031 appointments.
• From 2021 to 2022, students attended a total of 9344 appointments. 
• The number of clinical appointments listed includes all intakes, individual counseling, Same-Day Solutions, emergency contacts, and case management sessions.   

Lauren Patterson, Associate Director of the Counseling Center, explained that these numbers also factor in a number of changes within the University in the past 2 to 3 years. 

• “During that time we have increased the number of clinicians on staff, began offering telehealth in addition to in-person services, and expanded our urgent services,” said Patterson. “All of these things could also contribute to the increase demonstrated.”