Parents May Underestimate Frequency of Mental Health Concerns Among College Students

College students are far more likely to report having experienced an eating disorder, depression, or suicidal ideation compared with what parents report knowing about their children ’s experiences with mental illness, according to aUnitedHealthcare report published today.“It may not be surprising that some students and parents have different perceptions of the college experience, but this report demonstrates the need to create environments for ongoing meaningful conversations with these emerging adults,” said Donald Tavakoli, M.D., national medical director for behavioral health with UnitedHealthcare, in anews release.The 2022 College Student Behavioral Health Report was conducted by YouGov, an international Internet-based market research and data analytics firm. YouGov surveyed 1,034 participants, 506 of whom were current college students, and 528 of whom were the parents of college students. The participants completed online surveys from August 8 to 14, 2022. Most of the students surveyed (85%) reported being enrolled in a health insurance plan.The survey revealed significant gaps in parents ’ understanding of their children’s mental health concerns. For every 10 students who reported seeking help for themselves or a friend in the last year, only eight parents reported they knew their child sought help. The disconnects between students’ experiences and parents’ perception of the ir child’s mental health include the following:41% of students reported experien...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: college cost depression eating disorders insurance mental health parents substance use disorders SUD suicidal ideation suicidal intent UnitedHealthcare Source Type: research