Real Talk, Real Impact: Listening to Students During Mental Health Awareness Month
Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us to check in on ourselves, our peers, and our communities. But on university campuses, awareness alone isn’t enough. The statistics are too serious and too personal to ignore. Today’s students aren’t just overwhelmed by exams. Many are overwhelmed by life.
Recent research from multiple sources paints a sobering picture: over 60% of post-secondary students meet the criteria for a mental health condition, and 76% report moderate to high levels of stress. Even more alarming, 64% of students who consider leaving university cite mental health as the primary reason.
These aren’t just numbers. They’re people. And at StudentPulse, we believe the most important thing we can do during Mental Health Awareness Month is to listen to what students are actually saying and act on it.
Despite all the awareness campaigns and green ribbons, many students still suffer quietly. Stigma, shame, or uncertainty about where to turn often stop them from reaching out. One student recently told us:
"Everyone else in my program did foundations and made friends already. I'm literally the only person in my semester who didn't."
Feeling left out from the start can create a sense of being permanently behind socially and emotionally. It’s not just about missing friends, it’s about feeling like you don’t belong.
Another shared:
"I don't share hobbies and perhaps a little bit of unfriendly behaviour from classmates."
Even subtle disconnects like this can leave students feeling alienated in their day-to-day environment. And when that alienation is repeated over time, it starts to feel personal.
It’s this kind of voice, honest, raw, and anonymous, that shows why annual surveys and well-meaning posters aren’t enough. Mental health is dynamic. Students' experiences can change week to week. That’s why continuous check-ins are so important.
Traditional feedback systems often capture problems too late. By the time a student reports they’re struggling or drops out, the damage is done.
Instead, real-time check-ins offer a better way forward. The academic study Tech With a Conscience by Dr. Jennifer Laffier and her team showed that proactive tools like StudentPulse can make a difference because they’re rooted in evidence-based design. Features like self-reflection, immediate feedback, and validation help students better understand themselves and help institutions respond in time.
"When I finally got a message saying, ‘We noticed you’re not doing well,’ I felt seen. I didn’t know people even looked at those surveys."
That moment of acknowledgment - even digital - can break the silence and open a door. Early identification means support doesn’t come too late.
This kind of early identification is critical. It can lead to timely outreach, peer mentorship, counseling, or even just a message saying, “You’re not alone.”
Student voices are a powerful source of insight when it comes to understanding the realities of campus mental health. Many students have shared that stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation directly impact their ability to concentrate, study, or attend class. One shared:
"I am anxious about the time limit of exams. Whenever I think about exams, the time limit always comes to mind. It's the same with assignments, I always try to complete them on time."
This kind of pressure isn’t just academic, it’s mental and emotional. It builds up slowly, then hits all at once.
Another said:
"I often feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Big tasks feel too difficult to manage, and I worry about failing before I even start."
This voice is far from rare. It echoes across campuses, inboxes, and conversations, it points to something bigger: the need to treat mental health as part of academic support, not separate from it.
These comments reflect more than individual struggles. They highlight the importance of listening actively and responding meaningfully. When universities take these voices seriously and use them to guide improvements such as launching support programs or adapting academic policies, it fosters a deeper sense of trust and care within the student community.
Creating a proactive mental health culture means conducting regular Check-ins, taking timely action on data, and making support visible. In one case, a university noticed a spike in stress levels before midterms. They responded with workshops, extended deadlines, and reminders that support was available and saw an increase in student satisfaction.
These aren’t huge, expensive programs. They’re human moments - simple actions rooted in care, triggered by real-time insights.
The StudentPulse platform is designed to make those moments happen more often and more meaningfully. It allows institutions to identify risks early, personalize responses, and foster a community where mental health isn’t an afterthought, but a shared responsibility.
Mental Health Awareness Month should be a reminder to listen more deeply and act more deliberately. Tools like StudentPulse don’t replace counselors or community, but they amplify their impact by making sure no student falls through the cracks unnoticed.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the thousands of comments we read each week, it’s this. Students want to be heard. And when they are, change becomes possible.
Let’s keep listening. Let’s keep acting.
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