Mental Health is the state of a person’s condition in regard to their psychological and emotional well-being, and college can be a time of emotional and mental health turmoil for many. As a student living in the time of increasing awareness about the effects college and higher education have on mental health, I believe an examination of mental state and well-being should be required prior to attending and or living at a college or university.
According to U.S. News, 70% of college students have struggled with their mental health since beginning college as of 2024. With an examination of mental health, the University’s Office of Accessibility will be able to track students who might need an extra boost of help when transitioning or even after the first year of college, if they continue to struggle.
The process of this examination would take place as follows: Students participate in an exam as part of their first-year student checklist that highlights different symptoms and behaviors of mental health issues, which can range from ADHD to depression and more. While the students will not be clinically diagnosed with any issues by this exam, they can be aware of certain behaviors they are exhibiting, and then can be housed accordingly with a student who aligns with the behaviors, and they could be encouraged to utilize resources on campus. If that roommate assignment is successful for both parties, the needs of the student(s) will be fulfilled and cared for with a mutual coexistence that is shared.
In my opinion, students rooming with another student who has a documented or exhibiting mental health issues should be notified when living with them and should be allowed to act accordingly. Being able to understand and research certain symptoms a student is having should be taken seriously, especially during the housing process.
Keeping in mind that technology is still often flawed, getting a diagnosis from a test can discourage students and make them feel different. Students could feel overwhelmed that the school’s access to knowledge of their mental health can be something they hold over their heads, but with the proper people in charge of the examination, no trouble should be caused.
While health and mental health is private information due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), if you experience an issue with your roommate that you wish to discuss with them or someone trustworthy, you should be notified of a mental health or health issue, if it affects your own mental or physical health.
I asked students at Fairfield University their opinion on the matter of my view and received mixed answers.
Claire Colasuonno, a first-year behavior neuroscience major, brought up the question, “How do you know students are not going to lie on the exam?” That led to deeper reflection about the exam, if it were to take place. While students should be honest with their exam, there is room for error and mistakes when it comes to a test such as this, meaning there would be many nuances to it.
Ava Bistoff, a first-year student and psychology minor, believes an examination could be abused in many ways, including the student lying on the exam and possible liability with privacy. She said, “It could be used to discriminate against people if the wrong person was in charge of the tests.”
Mental health care providers are staffed on Fairfield’s campus and are even available for around-the-clock care through hotlines. On the back of students’ stag card’s there has been the Department of Public Safety hotline for an on-campus emergency to be easily accessible to students. Just recently, the 24-hour Counseling & Psychological Services hotline has been placed on the card for the benefit of all students when struggling with a mental health crisis.
Comfort in housing and destigmatizing mental health should be normalized on college campuses, starting with seeing the signs and being able to lean on faculty and clinicians for support at your University. Being able to take a trustworthy exam to see symptoms and behaviors you might be exhibiting that can hinder living with certain people should be addressed when attending a University. While there are very few questions on the housing application, an examination of your mind and how you feel entering a new chapter of your life should be recommended for students at colleges all around the country. By prioritizing mental and emotional compatibility in housing, universities can create healthier communities where students are set up to thrive from the moment they move in.
