Intersections of Mental Health and Basic Needs: A Quantitative Study of U.S. Undergraduates

This study examined intersections between mental health and basic needs insecurity among college students, drawing on survey data from over 50,000 undergraduate students across 87 U.S. colleges and universities. The results suggest that addressing these needs is likely to support institutions’ retention goals. Mental health and financial security were among the most commonly‐cited factors in students’ decisions to leave school without completing a credential. However, barriers to accessing both mental health and other basic needs supports were widespread, particularly among LGBTQIA+ students. These findings underscore the need for integrated, holistic campus strategies that address mental health and basic needs insecurity through structural interventions aimed at reducing material hardship.