How Technology Can Support College Student Mental Health

Mental health has become one of the most important issues on college campuses throughout the nation, with college students facing challenges, ranging from academic pressures to career uncertainty to social and financial stressors. All of these issues intensified with the onset of COVID-19. According to the Healthy Minds Study (2023), nearly nearly 40% of college students reported feeling overwhelming anxiety, and 44% experienced depression. And, of considerable concern, 15% of college students reported that they seriously considered suicide in the past year.

This mental health crisis is not limited to individual students but affects the academic environment as a whole, creating a ripple effect of social withdrawal, decreased performance, and increased dropout rates. Despite growing resources, students still lack access to adequate mental health supports on campus. Many colleges and universities have limited counseling staff, and there is still a stigma surrounding mental health issues on college campuses and in society overall.

In response to these gaps, Danté Wade, Aaron Warrick, and Gregory Wilson — created Reju, a mental health platform. Graduates of Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, a historically Black college, they founded Reju based on both personal experience and a collective mission to provide students with the mental health resources they need. Reflecting on their experiences with mental health struggles and supporting family members through challenges, the founders sought to create an inclusive platform that fosters “mental, physical, and emotional success.”

As Wade shared, “Each of us had our own personal journey with anxiety and depression as well as individuals with diagnosed mental health issues such as Alzheimer’s, Bi-polar disorder and other chronic disorders.” The founders designed Reju to address mental health’s complexities, making it accessible, affordable, and approachable to young people navigating college life.

According to the founders, Reju’s commitment to mental health is rooted in a holistic approach that focuses on multiple dimensions of wellness, from psychological and physical to emotional health. The platform’s design encourages users to connect with others through point-to-point interaction and wellness coaching. Wade describes this approach, noting that the app ensures “a holistic approach to mental health through features, which intentionally deploy for ease of use and a low barrier of entry to wellness solutions.” Reju is distinct in offering conventional mental health resources, personalized support sessions, and wellness content beyond traditional clinical mental health topics.

Facing the challenges of scaling Reju in the competitive landscape of higher education, the founders have developed innovative outreach strategies to broaden their impact. Limited by funding compared to larger competitors, they have relied on direct outreach and partnerships to spread the message. For instance, during a student panel event at historically Black Howard University, Reju brought together students to share personal stories of resilience. The event also included mental health therapists and a yoga instructor, demonstrating the multitude of ways that students can approach mental health.

The Reju founders believe that supporting young people’s mental health is not only a personal endeavor but also a societal one. “There is a national discussion happening around the strengthening of mental health in society, particularly when we think about our young people,” Wade noted. Reju’s mission is to equip students with the tools they need to establish solid mental foundations for life beyond college, preparing them to become healthier and more resilient members of society.

As we navigate the ongoing mental health crisis, one question is critical: How are we, as individuals and as a community, actively ensuring that college students receive the comprehensive mental health resources they need to thrive? Reju offers a promising model, but it is crucial that each of us works to remove the barriers and stigmas around mental health support.

As Karen Gross, co-author of Mending Education: Finding Hope, Creativity, and Mental Wellness in Times of Trauma, states, “The data reveal that college students mental wellness is increasingly in decline; we know too that learning is deeply impaired when students are not thriving psychosocially. It behooves all of us as educators to help students become their best selves academically, psychologically and socially. Mental health isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.”