Objective: To examine whether experiencing recent stressors predicted seeking a referral to mental health care among college students using the Interactive Screening Program (ISP). Participants: A total of sixty-three thousand four hundred seven college students across 58 postsecondary institutions who participated in the ISP from 2009 to 2024. Methods: Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods categorized stressors students reported and determined whether students sought a referral to care. Results: Reporting any recent stressor increased the likelihood of seeking a referral (aOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.42-1.71). Relationship issues, abuse, mental health, workplace issues, and family dynamics were positively associated with referral-seeking, while financial issues and academic responsibilities were negatively associated. Each additional stressor was associated with a 16% increase in referral-seeking odds (aOR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.14-1.18). Conclusions: Findings provide insight into the stressors college students face and highlight the ISP's proactive ability to identify students experiencing various stressors and connect them to care.
Witmer et al. (2026) studied this question.