SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A survey commissioned by Chegg.org, the nonprofit arm of Silicon Valley edtech company Chegg, released on World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 shows that almost a quarter of students (23% college, 24% high school) know of someone who has had suicidal thoughts since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 5% of both college and high school students reporting having made a suicide attempt themselves. The survey shows more than half of US students (58% college, 53% high school) are worried about their mental health; with over half (53% college, 62% high school) reporting experiencing stress, and a similar number (48% college, 51% high school) saying they have suffered anxiety since the outbreak of the pandemic.
These are among the findings of a nationwide survey of 1,000 currently enrolled US college and high school students, surveyed from August 7th through 17th, conducted by Chegg.org and their partners: the Ad Council, the JED Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Born This Way Foundation. These findings are included in the fourth report in Chegg.org’s 2020 State of the Student series, which offers insights into how students are feeling and coping during the COVID pandemic.
Chegg.org’s survey also revealed that only 4 in 10 students (43% college, 40% high school) said that their school provided helpful mental health resources, while fewer than half (38%) said they felt their college or school instructors take mental health seriously. Of the two-thirds (65%) of students who had never sought help from their college or school counselling services, one in four said this was because they did not feel comfortable seeking help. More encouragingly, though, of the 3 in 10 (29%) students who said they had sought counselling from their college or school in the past, more than three-quarters (76%) said that the experience was either moderately helpful, very helpful or extremely helpful.
With school and college campuses reopening this Fall, the survey also found that nearly half of all college (46%) and high school (47%) students feel anxious about returning. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the trend in online learning remains strong, with just 1 in 7 students (14% college, 15% high school) reporting that they will only be taking classes in person this coming Fall. Instead, three quarters (75%) said they will be taking either online classes or a mixture of online and in-person. With college debt already a headache amongst college students, 1 in 5 students said that they have experienced greater financial pressures since the pandemic started.
Lila Thomas, Chegg’s Director of Social Impact and Head of Chegg.org, said:
“It is heart breaking that so many students either know of someone who has had suicidal thoughts during the Covid-19 pandemic, or have themselves attempted suicide.
“The fact that significant numbers of students are experiencing stress, anxiety and depression, yet do not feel comfortable seeking help from their professors or teachers, or their college or school counselling services, demonstrates that students are not receiving the support they deserve. At a time when students’ education, social networks and future have been turned upside down, it is imperative that colleges and schools do a much better job at informing students of their mental health services and making them accessible.
“With nearly half of all students also feeling anxious about returning to campus, many will wonder whether college is worth the risks and costs if they are denied the support that they need. If these institutions are to win the trust of their students in the age of COVID and beyond, they will need to make fundamental changes for the better.”
Maya Enista Smith, Executive Director, Born This Way Foundation said:
“It is so incredibly important that young people do not suffer in silence, and that we properly understand and prioritize their mental and emotional wellness. The findings from Chegg.org’s report shed vital light on the toll the pandemic has had on students’ mental health.
“Born This Way Foundation and the partners included in this report focus every day on ensuring that young people are met with the support, resources and community that they need to not only survive, but also to thrive. We believe in young people - to address these challenges and any others that they may face.”
Key findings
- More than half of students (58% college, 53% high school) said they were “moderately”, “very” or “extremely” worried about their mental health.
- A majority of students (53% college, 62% high school) reported experiencing stress, and half (48% college, 51% high school) experienced anxiety since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- More than a third (33% college, 38% high school) reported experiencing depression during the pandemic.
- Almost a quarter (23% college, 24% high school) said they knew of someone with suicidal thoughts while 5% of both college and high school students report having made a suicide attempt themselves during the pandemic.
- Nearly half of all college (46%) and high school (47%) students feel anxious about returning to school or campus, with only a quarter feeling optimistic about doing so.
- Since the pandemic began, more than half (55%) of students have offered support to a friend whom they thought might be struggling – while nearly half (49%) have had a friend reach out to them. 72% of students reported feeling hopeful or supported when their friend did reach out.
- Of the students who did not reach out to their school’s counseling services, 25% of them said they did not reach out because they felt uncomfortable doing so.
- Only 4 in 10 students (38%) said they feel their college or school instructors take mental health seriously, and just 3 in 10 said they feel comfortable telling their instructor if their mental health stops them from completing work.
- Just 1 in 7 students (14% college, 15% high school) said they will only be taking classes in person this coming Fall: instead, three quarters (75%) said they will be taking either online classes or a mixture of online and in-person.
- 1 in 5 college students have experienced more financial pressure since the pandemic started.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Chegg puts students first. As the leading student-first connected learning platform, Chegg strives to improve the overall return on investment in education by helping students learn more in less time and at a lower cost. Chegg is a publicly held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. Chegg.org is the impact, advocacy, and research arm of Chegg addressing the issues facing the modern student. For more information, visit www.chegg.org or www.chegg.com.
- The Ad Council has a long history of creating life-saving public service communications in times of national crisis, starting in the organization's earliest days during World War II to September 11th and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. Its deep relationships with media outlets, the creative community, issue experts and government leaders make the organization uniquely poised to quickly distribute life-saving information to millions of Americans.
- JED is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. It is partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. It is equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. It is encouraging community awareness, understanding and action for young adult mental health. Learn more at jedfoundation.org.
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
