College Student Mental Health on Spring Break: Ensuring Access to Key Services

Amaura Kemmerer, LICSW 
Executive Vice President of Client Engagement 

Spring Break for college students can be a restorative respite from the academic rigor of the semester and an opportunity to decompress before the demands of the semester and finals resume. For some students, however, spring break may bring stressors like returning home to a challenging environment or travelling with friends/family where conflict or strain can arise from things like travel costs, unexpected situations, and lack of personal space. Some spring break trips with friends can include heavy drinking and/or other drug use, increasing the possibility of unwanted effects and experiences which can have a lasting negative impact on student mental health.

The data have been telling a consistent story of increasing mental health challenges for college students over the past ten years. The 2021 Student Voice survey found that 65% of college students reported fair to poor mental health. This means that many students going on break are likely to already be struggling with mental health issues, whether or not they have experiences that exacerbate stress, anxiety or depressive symptoms. Student mental health concerns aren’t limited to on-campus experiences and as such, students need around-the-clock access to mental health services while they are on spring break, just as they need access during all other school breaks, including summer. Colleges and universities are increasingly implementing solutions for mental health support that are accessible to students, wherever they might be in the world. Christie Campus Health can partner with colleges and universities looking to ensure there are no disruptions to students getting the care they need. 

Christie Campus Health (CCH) offers a high touch, customized solution for colleges and universities that complements existing mental health and wellness efforts. Whether that is instant support from a licensed clinician available 24/7 or access to no-cost counseling and teletherapy sessions through their vast provider network, CCH is exclusively focused on the unique needs of college students, wherever they are. The CCH full continuum of care also includes services such as Student Navigators to assist with referrals and specialty care; psychiatric prescribing; evidence-based tools like Headspace, the leading meditation and mindfulness app; SilverCloud, a self-directed and clinically validated ICBT program; and a curated Wellness & Navigation Hub with over 1,000 articles and videos to support student mental health and wellness. Contact Christie Campus Health to learn more.