What broader approach do mental health experts recommend to better support student mental health?

• A. Eliminating counseling centers in favor of online-only support
• B. Focusing only on crisis intervention services
• C. Restricting mental health services to clinical diagnoses only
• D. Building a campus culture that promotes overall well-being and early support

Answer: (D)

A proactive, holistic approach to student mental health is most effective: it focuses on prevention, early identification, and easy access to support within the everyday campus environment, rather than just reacting to crises. When a campus culture prioritizes well-being, reduces stigma around seeking help, and weaves mental health into academics, housing, and student life, students are more likely to seek help early, know where to go, and feel supported. This includes universal programs that teach stress management and resilience, clear pathways to care, and collaboration among counselors, faculty, and student leaders to create an welcoming, responsive system. Elimination of counseling centers ignores accessible, personalized support; focusing only on crises misses chances to prevent problems from escalating; restricting services to those with a clinical diagnosis excludes many students who are distressed but not formally diagnosed.