College students face a mental health crisis: despite the availability of hundreds of apps and services aimed at improving mental wellness, 77% of students still report struggling with their mental health. Even more concerning, less than half of these students utilize the existing resources, and some tools report user engagement rates as low as 0.5%. Why is this the case? Is it due to poor app design, stigma, lack of awareness, or other barriers?
The challenge is clear: how can we encourage more students to use these tools, sustain their engagement, and help them achieve meaningful, positive outcomes? A successful solution would not only detect a student’s mental state and intervene when necessary but also ensure long-term engagement with the chosen resource to maximize its effectiveness.
The problem goes beyond creating or refining an app—it’s about addressing the fundamental issues preventing students from engaging with mental health resources and designing a solution that changes how mental health is addressed on college campuses around the world.
The global mental health app market is booming, with projected growth from $5.2 billion in 2023 to $13.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 16.63. This surge is fueled by increasing mental health awareness, smartphone adoption, and the urgent need for accessible support solutions, particularly among college students.
