Mental health challenges among adolescents and college students are on the rise in the U.S., and Northwestern is responding with a major investment in student well-being. Supported by a generous gift from an anonymous donor and launched in 2025, the Institute for Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being brings together scholars and campus leaders to study young adult psychology and translate discoveries into programming.
Housed in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology, with affiliates across academic and administrative units, the institute leverages Northwestern’s strengths in clinical, developmental and social psychology. It also fosters research and programming collaborations across the University to improve student outcomes at Northwestern and beyond.
This initiative comes at a critical time: According to the 2024–25 Healthy Minds Study, which surveyed more than 84,000 students across 135 U.S. colleges and universities, 37% experienced moderate or severe depressive symptoms, while 33% experienced moderate or severe anxiety symptoms.
A defining feature of the institute is its strategic partnership with Northwestern’s Division of Student Affairs. Beginning with the class of 2030, the institute and Student Affairs will launch a first-of-its-kind longitudinal survey of students to assess mental health and well-being and track risk and resilience over time. This unprecedented dataset will inform targeted campus interventions, help direct research priorities and generate empirical findings with national relevance.
“The insights we gain will allow us to focus on evidence-based support that can improve our students’ wellness and serve as a model for universities across the U.S.,” says Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Davis.
Last February the Institute for Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being introduced a cross-disciplinary speaker series that convenes Northwestern faculty and external experts and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, a talk led by Jessica Schleider, associate professor of medical social sciences, focused on scaling single-session interventions to bridge gaps in youth mental health ecosystems.
“Young minds thrive in settings that support their need for excitement, social understanding and mental flexibility,” says the institute’s director, Vijay Mittal, who is also the David S. Holmes Professor of Brain Science. “By facilitating research across disciplines — from neuroscience and psychology to AI and engineering — we can identify the most effective ways to support healthy adolescent brain development.”
Current research includes a study by professor of mechanical engineering and communication studies Elizabeth Gerber, who is exploring how AI is shifting the way students “self-concept,” or view themselves, their capabilities and their possibilities.
