ANK Behavioral Health flags college transition stress as a mental health risk

ANK Behavioral Health says the start of the semester can trigger anxiety, depression and loneliness for both new and returning college students. The New Jersey practice points to research linking academic pressure, financial stress and homesickness to measurable mental health harms.

Why it matters: - The start of a semester can raise mental health risks for college students, not just freshmen but also upperclassmen returning to heavier workloads and disrupted routines. - Persistent stress can affect sleep, eating, school performance and daily functioning. - Families and students who catch problems early may be more likely to get help before symptoms worsen.

What happened: - ANK Behavioral Health highlighted research on the mental health toll of starting and returning to college as campuses reopen this month. - The Mount Laurel, New Jersey psychiatric practice said the transition into college life deserves attention alongside move-in logistics, dorm shopping and class schedules. - Founder Alyssa Killion said the first few months of a semester are a high-risk window, especially for students facing first-generation pressures, financial stress or existing anxiety or depression.

The details: - A 2024 study in JAACAP Open followed 556 incoming first-year students at a northeastern U.S. university through weekly surveys during their first semester. - The study found anxiety symptoms changed week to week and rose with academic stressors such as exams and papers. - Researchers led by Laura Bloomfield at the University of Vermont found higher anxiety risk among students with a prior mental health diagnosis, a history of trauma or higher neuroticism. - The same study found anxiety symptoms were higher among non-male students than male students. - A 2025 study in Psychosomatic Medicine followed 198 first-year students and linked financial stress over college costs and first-generation college status to increases in depressive symptoms and inflammation markers. - The researchers said the transition’s toll showed up not only psychologically but also in the body. - The 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study surveyed more than 84,000 college students across all class years. - The survey found 32% of students reported moderate to severe anxiety and 52% reported high levels of loneliness, even as both measures continued a three-year decline. - ANK Behavioral Health said the data show back-to-school stress is not limited to first-year students. - The practice said sophomores, juniors and seniors can report comparable stress as they return to classes, jobs and relationships that paused over the summer. - ANK Behavioral Health offers comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and ongoing care by telehealth across New Jersey. - First appointments last 60 to 90 minutes to allow time for a full conversation about symptoms and concerns. - The practice is based in Mount Laurel and accepts major insurance plans. - ANK Behavioral Health has served New Jersey patients since 2012 and offers psychiatric evaluation, medication management and integrated psychotherapy through telehealth.

Between the lines: - The message is broader than homesickness: college transition stress can overlap with academic pressure, money worries and pre-existing mental health conditions. - The research suggests returning students can be just as vulnerable as first-years, which matters because families often focus support on move-in season only. - The inclusion of inflammation markers in the UCLA-led study points to a possible physical health dimension, not just emotional distress.

What's next: - ANK Behavioral Health is encouraging students and families to seek an evaluation if mood, sleep, appetite or academic functioning stay disrupted beyond the first few weeks of the semester. - The practice is also urging parents to stay engaged with both first-year and returning students during move-in season and the weeks that follow. - More information is available at ANK Behavioral Health.