Have you ever felt like the sky was falling—like you’re one crisis away from everything crashing down? Whether that feels painfully familiar or impossibly distant, it’s the daily reality for many students.

According to the Mayo Clinic Health System, 44% of college students reported symptoms of depression in 2021–2022, and 15% said they had seriously considered suicide within the past year. The Newport Institute adds that 36% of students have been diagnosed with anxiety, 1 in 5 experience severe psychological distress, and more than a third face moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. The numbers don’t lie—and behind each one is a real person just trying to make it through the semester.

It’s no secret that today’s students are under pressure. With 78% of FAU undergraduate students commuting to campus, many are juggling rent, bills, food, gas, and car payments and insurance. Add the demands of coursework, internships, and the looming pressure to have it all figured out, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed.

But there’s support. FAU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) exists to help students navigate exactly these challenges. CAPS offers confidential, timely, and compassionate mental health services designed to support students’ educational, personal, and emotional well-being.

Students can seek help for a wide range of issues—from stress and relationship difficulties to more complex mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Every student is evaluated based on their unique needs and goals. That may mean short-term individual or group therapy on campus, connecting with other university resources, or referrals to off-campus providers. Whatever you're going through, CAPS is a place to start.

Now that we’ve explored the facts, let’s turn inward. Up next are two personal reflections from Mary and me, offering our honest perspectives on how CAPS has impacted our lives.

Sign up to receive the OutFAU newsletter here