Why College Students Hide What Is Really Happening

Oakland University. Photo courtesy of Maddie Valascho, 2026.

Here at Oakland University, the campus life is great with many different activities and clubs offered. Students walk around between their classes laughing with friends or scrolling on their phones. From an outside perspective, everything looks uniform and complete, and how a normal campus should look. But when you start asking these students questions, a different story comes out. 

“I feel like I’m constantly behind and can never catch up,” said Maya Jones, a fourth-year student at OU. “Even when I finish something, there’s always something else I have to do. It never really stops.” 

That feeling of never being caught up came up again and again in conversations with students across campus. Another student said how hard it is to juggle a part-time job and a full course load, and said his schedule is “nonstop.”

“I go to class, then work, then try to study, and by the time I’m done, it’s like… I didn’t have time for myself,” Jones said. “The day is just gone. And it is the same thing over and over again.” 

For many students, college isn’t just about classes. It’s about trying to balance their job, social life, homework, exams, and the pressure to plan what their future will look like at the same time. While that pressure builds, it stays concealed.

As a result of this stress, many students can become depressed or develop some sort of depression related disorder related to their mental health. According to a survey of undergraduates, 28% of students who said they suffered from major depression and 49% of students with other types of depression did not think they needed help. Among students meeting criteria for major depression, only 36% received medication or therapy/counseling, and among those with other depression types, only 16% received such services. 

The Pressure Of It All

A common theme among students wasn’t just stress; they all wanted to appear like they weren’t stressed, overworked, or tired. Students try to play the role of having it all together, and this can make others feel lousy for not being the same. A comparison of, if they can do it, why can’t I do it? 

Comparisons like these can make it harder for people to be open and express their emotions. Instead of discussing this feeling of being overwhelmed, students often default to a simple phrase: I’m fine. 

Jones said quite matter-of-factly: “I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining. Everyone’s busy, everyone's stressed, and everyone has something going on in their personal lives. It feels like you’re supposed to just deal with it and push through.” 

That mindset creates a struggle that no one sees. Not over grades, but over who can handle the most without breaking.

Many students even consider leaving their universities, as stated in an article by Stephanie Marken, a researcher at Gallup: “Thirty-five percent of college students nationally report they have considered leaving their program in the past six months. The most important reason students cite for leaving higher education is their well-being, with 54% reporting emotional stress and 43% reporting mental health reasons.”  

Staying Silent

Even when students realize they are struggling, many don’t reach out for help. Some students may see it as weak and that if you can't handle the pressure, people will judge you. Or, people will lean in and tell themselves that others have it worse. 

The alternative for this is to push through it instead of actually dealing with it. Time is also a big contributor to all of this. When schedules are already overwhelming and filling up faster than students can put them in their calendars, asking for help can feel like just another task, or they may feel like a burden. 

Behind all of these reasons is something deeper: fear. There is a fear of being judged, misunderstood, or even having to flat-out say “I need help.” There are pressures to succeed, and not many students know how to receive help or to prioritize their mental health.

Having Discussions

Students want to talk, but they do not always feel like they can. When someone asks and listens, it can give college students a sense of relief and help them feel heard in their struggles, but it does not happen often.  It starts with making the change from silence to honest communication and being open about what you are going through. 

Behind all of the busy schedules and “I’m fine” responses, many students are carrying more than they want to show, and sometimes the hardest part isn’t the workload — it’s feeling like you have to deal with all of this alone.