- 64.4% of nursing students screened positive for at least one mental health problem.
- Only 33.3% reported past-year therapy despite widespread symptoms.
- Help-seeking rose with severity (OR 1.76 to 2.87), yet over 40% reporting suicide attempt received no care; proactive, profession-sensitive strategies needed.
Nurse Educ. 2026 Aug 28. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000002304. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nursing students report high rates of psychological distress, but how their use of mental health treatment varies with symptom severity is unclear.
PURPOSE: To describe mental health symptom prevalence and treatment use among nursing students and examine the association between clinical severity and help-seeking.
METHODS: Secondary analysis of 2024 to 2025 Healthy Minds Study data from nursing students (N = 5817). Depression and anxiety were measured with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7; suicidality and past-year therapy were self-reported. χ2 tests and odds ratios assessed associations.
RESULTS: Overall, 64.4% screened positive for ≥1 mental health problem, but only 33.3% reported past-year therapy. Help-seeking rose with severity (odds ratio, 1.76 for major depression to 2.87 for suicide attempt; all P < .001), yet more than 40% reporting a suicide attempt received no care.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical severity alone does not ensure treatment; proactive, profession-sensitive strategies are needed.
PMID:42663608 | DOI:10.1097/NNE.0000000000002304
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