Recovering in Place: Creating Campus Models of Care for the High-Risk College Student

Over the last decade, the number and severity of mental health problems among college students has continued to rise. Universities are struggling to dedicate enough resources to meet the mental health needs of students. In this article, we review on-campus innovative programs designed to promote recovery in high-risk college students.

Colleges respond in a variety of ways to students on campus with serious mental health problems, from encouraging or requiring students to take a leave of absence, to creating treatment programs and reducing course loads to treat in place. On-campus programs that address the needs of high-risk students can include post-hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient groups, and specialized treatment for diverse populations such as athletes. Some universities are developing unique programs that enable high-risk college students to recover on campus. More research is needed to determine how best to deliver this care.