“You can tell they try, you can tell there are resources”: a case study of institutional contexts for college student mental health

This critical case study examines the institutional approaches to student mental health at two higher education institutions, CBU and HU, with a focus on how policies, practices, and broader socio-political contexts shape student well-being. Findings reveal a persistent overemphasis on crisis intervention, which often sidelines the everyday mental health needs of students. The study highlights the necessity for institutions to move beyond compliance-driven models toward holistic, student-centered frameworks that integrate mental health support across both academic and student affairs. Additionally, the research underscores how external socio-political factors, including anti-DEI legislation and campus conflict, influence student mental health and institutional responses. Recommendations include policy reforms to expand flexible attendance, academic accommodations, investments in counseling and disability services, cross-campus collaboration, and the cultivation of a culture of care that prioritizes both crisis intervention and daily mental health support.