Survey: 20% of College Students Say Winter Break Will Have Negative Impact on Mental Health
Students who identify as LGBTQIA+ report feeling slightly more stressed about going home for the holidays.
Photo: New Africa, Adobe Stock
Although the majority of college students are looking forward to winter break, a significant number say it will negatively impact their mental health.
According to a nationwide survey, distributed by TimelyMD to 1,200 college students, 80% say their mental health will be positively impacted by being at home for break — leaving 20% worse off. And while most are looking forward to time off, 78% say they are currently experiencing the same or a higher level of stress and anxiety as this time last year.
Additionally, the survey found 60% of students took at least one mental health or wellness day this semester.
“Mental health issues don’t take a winter break, but time off presents a great opportunity to recharge, relax and reconnect with people you care about,” said Seli Fakorzi, Director of Mental Health Operations at TimelyMD. “My advice? Give yourself the gift of taking care of you this holiday season. Whether that includes self-care, peer support and/or professional counseling, a mental health reset now can help you enter the new year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.”
Additional highlights from the survey include:
- Students who identify as LGBTQIA+ report feeling slightly more stressed about going home for the holidays (60%), compared to 51% of students overall
- Non-binary students (91%) are significantly more stressed about going home than their female (55%) and male (44%) peers
- Students are evenly split about whether they feel stressed or anxious about winter break (51%) or not (49%)
- The three greatest sources of holiday stress are family (49%), travel (41%), and finances (38%)
- About two-thirds (66%) of students say their family is aware that they are experiencing mental health issues, with 84% reporting that their family is supportive of them seeking professional mental health support
- Friends (63%), family (51%), and screen time (38%) are the top three ways students plan to cope with stress and anxiety this holiday season
If you are in need of mental health support this holiday season or beyond, visit timely.md.com for available resources.
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