The gap between the growing demand for mental health care and the available resources at Princeton University is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. The 2022 Senior Survey revealed that nearly 60% of respondents pursued mental health counseling or therapy, while a staggering 75% considered it. This underscores the pressing need for adequate mental health support within the student community.
However, the current infrastructure at the University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) falls significantly short of meeting these needs. CPS currently employs only 27 social workers, psychologists, and counselors to serve a student body comprising 5,540 undergraduates and 3,238 graduate students during the 2022–23 academic year. This results in an alarming ratio of one clinician for every 330 students on campus.
Moreover, as the student population at Princeton continues to expand, with class sizes growing by 250 in the last two years and set to increase similarly in the coming years, the situation is poised to deteriorate further. Without a substantial increase in the counseling staff at CPS, the University’s ability to address students’ mental health care needs will remain inadequate.
The consequences of CPS’ understaffing are severe, particularly for students requiring urgent mental health care. Initial consultations often take several days to schedule, and the first intake appointment averages about a week. Such delays are inadequate, considering that mental health issues can escalate rapidly, potentially leading to severe or even life-threatening situations. Once students gain access to CPS, they are encouraged not to exceed six appointments with clinicians on campus, after which they must seek external therapists at additional personal expense. This policy poses a significant financial burden for students, undermining their access to essential mental health care.
While an emergency fund exists to assist students in such situations, its limited budget is insufficient for long-term care. For instance, the fund provides only $300 per year in aid before students must consider taking out loans to cover additional costs. This situation forces students, particularly those with limited financial means, to weigh the cost of mental health care against other essential expenses.
To address these pressing issues, the University must take immediate action. Expanding the CPS staff is a crucial step toward improving access to mental health care for students. However, this expansion should also prioritize diversity within the clinician pool, as criticisms have emerged about the lack of diversity among CPS staff. Currently, a majority of CPS clinicians are white, which does not adequately represent the University’s increasingly diverse student body. Diverse staff can better understand and address unique mental health challenges faced by students of color and contribute to a more inclusive and effective mental health support system.
While the University has made strides with initiatives such as the CPS Cares Line, which offers digital counseling, these efforts alone are insufficient to tackle the pervasive mental health care problems on campus. Reducing wait times for initial consultations, making long-term mental health care financially accessible, and enhancing diversity among CPS staff must become top priorities for the University. Expanding the CPS staff is an essential first step toward achieving these goals and ensuring that students receive the mental health support they need and deserve.
