From apps to AI, campuses are expanding access to mental health support through tech-powered tools
The transition to college is often framed as a launchpad to adulthood—but for many students, it’s a psychological pressure cooker. Academic demands, social shifts, financial stress, and questions of identity all collide, making mental health a top concern. According to a 2024 U.S. News–Generation Lab report, 70% of students have experienced mental health challenges since entering college—yet only 37% have accessed on-campus resources.
“We’re dealing with an urgent public health issue in higher education,” says Dr. Ryan S. Patel, board member of the American College Health Association (ACHA) and chair of its Mental Health Section. “Students are struggling, and traditional models of care are simply not meeting the moment. That’s why institutions are turning to technology—not to replace human care, but to extend it.”
As mental health concerns intensify on campuses nationwide, colleges and universities are embracing digital tools and AI-driven innovations to provide broader, more equitable and easier access to care. These initiatives span teletherapy partnerships, app-based support, digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), real-time data analytics, and AI chatbots that simulate human conversation.
The future of mental health in higher education may no longer be confined to a counselor’s office. Increasingly, it’s on a smartphone, in an algorithmically suggested video module, or even embedded in a learning management system.
APA Calls for Guardrails on AI Mental Health Tools
As colleges adopt AI chatbots and digital wellness tools to support students, the American Psychological Association (APA) is calling for caution—and accountability. In its 2024 report, Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-Being, the APA highlights the urgent need for safeguards when using AI with individuals ages 10 to 25.
Among the key concerns:
- Privacy and data protection
- Simulated relationships that may confuse emotional development
- Exposure to harmful or inaccurate content
- Targeted advertising that exploits mental vulnerability
To mitigate these risks, the APA recommends:
- Age-appropriate privacy settings and transparency in design
- Clear distinctions between AI tools and licensed therapy
- Integration of AI literacy into K–12 and college curricula
- Developer responsibility for adolescent safety from the start
The APA also calls for cross-sector collaboration—between psychologists, educators, technologists, and youth advocates—to ensure that as AI becomes more embedded in students’ lives, it supports rather than undermines their mental health and development.
Reaching Students Where They Are, When They Need It
At Northwood University, a private business school in Michigan, a recent rollout of TimelyCare—a 24/7 virtual care platform—dramatically expanded student access to licensed therapists, health coaching, and crisis support.
“We wanted a solution that wouldn’t just offer more appointments, but that would remove as many barriers to entry as possible,” says Lisa Fairbairn, Northwood’s provost and academic vice president. “TimelyCare gives students the ability to get support when they need it, not when a calendar says they can.”
The platform is available around the clock, including nights and weekends—times when traditional campus counseling centers are often closed. That after-hours availability has proven vital, especially as students report experiencing the highest distress late at night or outside academic hours.
At a time when students are used to instantaneous digital engagement—from food delivery to social connection—mental health services that mimic that ease are more likely to be used.
“We have to stop expecting students to operate on our schedules,” Patel says. “Digital services give students privacy, immediacy, and agency—three things that are essential to modern care models.”
AI-Powered Early Intervention
Georgia State University is pushing the envelope even further with predictive analytics. Using AI models that analyze behavioral data—such as course logins, assignment submissions, and class attendance—the university can now identify students who may be at risk of academic decline or emotional distress, even before an issue emerges.
This proactive approach enables faculty and advisors to intervene early, offering personalized outreach or referrals to mental health services.
“The power of data is not just in identifying who needs help—it’s in helping us reach out in a way that feels supportive, not punitive,” says Dr. Alison Brown, associate vice president for student success at Georgia State. “We want students to know someone is looking out for them, even if they haven’t asked for help yet.”
Similar tools are being used at the University of Central Florida and Arizona State University, where AI-based nudges and alerts are embedded within student portals to encourage engagement with mental health resources—particularly during high-stress periods like midterms or finals.
Scalable Mental Health Without the Waitlist
Even before COVID-19, many campus counseling centers struggled with long waitlists and high caseloads. Now, some institutions are augmenting traditional services with digital platforms designed to offer scalable, evidence-based mental health programming.
TAO Connect (Therapy Assistance Online), used by institutions such as the University of Florida and several University of California campuses, provides students with a self-guided suite of tools, allowing counselors to “prescribe” custom programs to supplement live sessions.
“TAO Connect provides a suite of resilience tools—video modules, mood tracking, mindfulness exercises—that students can explore at their own pace,” says Peter Cornish, Ph.D., director of counseling and psychological services at UC Berkeley’s University Health Services. “It lets students build skills between sessions and brings richer insights back into counseling—making care more dynamic and personalized.”
Platforms like Sanvello and Headspace for Educators and Students are rapidly gaining traction on campuses, offering guided meditations, stress-reduction exercises, and mood tracking at students’ fingertips. These tools aren’t just add-ons—they’re becoming integrated into wellness strategies, orientation programs, and even course syllabi at a growing number of institutions.
And colleges aren’t simply handing students free app logins—they’re forging intentional partnerships with platforms that understand the rhythms and realities of campus life.
“To effectively respond to the campus mental health crisis, we want to support well-being holistically, augmenting traditional counseling with wellness tools that can transform stressors into resilience,” says Michael London, founder and CEO of Uwill, whose partnership with Headspace now supports more than two million students nationwide.
London notes that mindfulness tools work best when they’re not siloed but embedded across multiple touchpoints—from residence life workshops to push notifications during finals week. The aim: make mental health care both proactive and routine.
The Promise and Pitfalls of AI Companions
One of the more controversial developments in digital mental health is the rise of AI-driven chatbots. Tools like Woebot, Wysa, and Tess use natural language processing to mimic empathetic conversation and provide real-time coping strategies for anxiety, depression, and stress. While early results show positive engagement—especially among students hesitant to speak with a human counselor—experts urge caution.
“Chatbots can be a helpful first step for students who aren’t ready for traditional care, but they should never be seen as replacements,” warns Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, a psychologist and founding director of the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA. “We need to be extremely clear about what these tools can and cannot do.”
The American Psychological Association echoed this warning in a 2024 report (see sidebar), citing risks such as data privacy, simulated relationships, and misinformation. The report calls for developers and institutions to implement age-appropriate safeguards and maintain human oversight when deploying AI tools for student well-being.
“AI can support adolescent well-being—but only if we prioritize safety and ethics,” says Dr. Uhls. “Without strong guardrails, we risk doing more harm than good.”
Redesigning Support for a New Era
As higher education adapts to increased demand for holistic student care, leaders are rethinking not just how mental health is delivered—but what counts as mental health care in the first place.
“Mental health isn’t just about therapy. It’s about belonging, workload, digital literacy, and a sense of community,” Patel says. “The institutions that thrive in this moment will be the ones that treat mental health as everyone’s responsibility—and use technology to weave care into the fabric of campus life.”
Whether it’s a chatbot that talks someone through a panic attack, an app that prompts a gratitude journal entry, or a text reminder that it’s time to breathe, the message is clear: support is no longer confined to an office with a waiting room. It’s wherever students are—and whenever they need it.
