Usage Trends of Student Counseling Rooms at Juntendo University's Hongo and Ochanomizu Campuses and at Other Universities in Japan: A Perspective Review

Juntendo University has three faculties and three graduate schools on its Hongo and Ochanomizu campuses, which collectively serve over 3,000 students. In 2019, the university established a Student Counseling Center to provide psychological support for students from diverse backgrounds. Following the expansion of services, including the addition of psychologists and psychiatrists, both the number of operating days and the volume of consultations increased markedly, particularly from 2023 onward. This trend mirrors patterns reported at other universities in Japan and reflects the growing global recognition of the importance of student mental health support. In collaboration with student affairs departments across faculties, we conduct regular awareness activities to promote mental health and encourage service utilization. Despite these efforts, several challenges remain, including limited awareness of the center among students, space and accessibility constraints affecting the counseling environment, and the need to enhance support for the mental well-being of university students.