African-American and female students at Princeton were significantly more likely than other students to report feeling depressed, while athletes were less likely to do so, according to the results of an Undergraduate Student Government survey conducted last summer. And students who identified themselves as gay or lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual, or “unsure” were more likely to report feeling depressed than heterosexual students were.
More than 1,850 students — 36 percent of undergraduates — completed the online survey, which asked students about their mental well-being, social life, academics, extracurriculars, and post-graduation plans.
New USG president Bruce Easop ’13 said that working with the administration to address mental-health issues will be “a top priority.” The survey results represent “a red flag to students and administrators alike that mental health deserves our full attention and resources,” he said.
Anita McLean, director of the University’s counseling and psychological services, said the survey data on mental health reflect the trends seen on most college campuses. Each year about 18 percent of Princeton undergraduates use her office’s services, which include individual psychotherapy, group counseling, and other programs, McLean said.
The survey results are being used as a guide for new USG projects, including a mental-health initiative to address issues such as stress, depression, and sexual assault, said Jess Brooks ’13, who is helping to organize the effort.
AMONG OTHER SURVEY FINDINGS: