In addition to the everyday stressors of college, the pandemic has significantly worsened the mental health of college students. COVID-19 has intensified student feelings of anxiety, depression and hopelessness. The percentage of students reporting anxiety, for instance, has grown from less than 20 percent in 2019 to close to 45 percent this past year. Some states, like West Virginia, are taking steps to help colleges and universities combat these trends by awarding large grants to expand mental health services for students.
But while increasing on-campus and telehealth counselor accessibility, hosting workshops to reduce loneliness and stress, adding 24-7 crisis hotlines, and lifting limits for no-cost therapy sessions offered to students can help, colleges have yet to realize they may already have a hub of wellness on-site. Campus makerspaces hold untapped potential for serving…
