ABSTRACT
This chapter takes a close look at the claims of a student mental health crisis on contemporary campuses, sorting out the various assertions that have found their way to the mass media and academic journals. The accumulating scientific evidence shows that there are indeed widespread reports by students of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, when viewed through an identity–purpose lens it appears that many students are likely experiencing these symptoms as a result of identity confusion associated with a lack of long-term purpose. In the past, students have experienced identity confusion as a matter of course, with previous generations understanding that going to college involved “finding yourself,” which could be a stressful, but growth-enhancing experience. After reviewing the scientific evidence, rather than seeing student stress from a strictly medical model, an alternative hypothesis is to view it as part of a therapeutic identity narrative that students can access when they find themselves overwhelmed by the cross-pressures of higher education. When this is done, different conclusions can be drawn about the causes of the reported symptoms, as well as the nature of this crisis and how to deal with it on an institutional and societal level.
