Mental health needs remain a significant concern among UCF students, with campus counseling services reflecting a system that provides accessible short-term care while presenting challenges in continuity and long-term treatment.
For many students, the pressures of college extend beyond academics and are shaped by transition, independence and distance from home.
As students seek out support, experiences with UCF’s mental health system vary, ranging from helpful short-term counseling to concerns about follow-up care and access to extended treatment.
Mental health support at UCF is delivered through a network of campus resources, including Counseling and Psychological Services, crisis intervention training within the UCF Police Department, student organizations and wellness tools designed to support stress management.
The center’s annual report found that it provided care to 4,115 students during the 2024 through the 2025 academic year, with 18,276 total appointments scheduled. The report also showed that the center serves roughly 9% of UCF’s eligible student population. In addition, 1,024 students received emergency care, and CAPS responded to 388 after-hours crisis calls during the same period.
Against this backdrop, students like Raiya Shaw, sophomore sociology and English major, describe turning to CAPS during moments of transition and adjustment.
Shaw said her college experience began with significant academic and personal changes, including being away from her family for the first time.
“The transition to UCF had been pretty difficult for me…learning new things about myself and how I handled certain events in my life,” Shaw said.
She said adjusting to independence and building new social connections made her realize her usual coping strategies were no longer effective.
Shaw said she sought counseling after learning services were available at no cost to students.
One of the most helpful parts of counseling, she said, was learning strategies to reframe her thinking and manage negative thought patterns.
While students like Shaw describe positive experiences once they enter care, others point to challenges in how services function, particularly around continuity and long-term support.
According to the CAPS website, students receive short-term individual counseling focused on goal-setting, with most using about four to six sessions per year before being referred to additional services or outside providers if needed.
Dr. Larry Marks, assistant director of prevention at CAPS, explained how the model works to support students with different levels of need.
“That structure allows us to provide support to a broader number of students while also helping ensure that those who need more specialized or ongoing care are connected with the right resources,” Marks said.
He added that CAPS emphasizes accessibility and encourages students to seek help regardless of the severity of their concerns.
“We like to say no issue is too big or too small to come speak with a counselor about,” Marks said.
Marks said CAPS provides free, confidential services including in-person and virtual appointments, drop-in support and a 24-hour crisis line. He said anxiety remains the most common concern among students, followed by relationship issues, depression and family stress.
According to the report, anxiety accounted for 63% of reported concerns in 2022–2023, 59% in 2023–2024, and 57% in 2024–2025.
While CAPS emphasizes accessibility, some students describe gaps in follow-up and continuity of care.
Kurt Laxamana, junior criminal justice major, said his experience felt inconsistent with how services are presented in campus messaging.
Laxamana said scheduling was straightforward, but follow-up and continued engagement were limited. He also said he did not receive a follow-up after seeking urgent care support.
“The mentally ill are not very well known for reaching out past first contact,” Laxamana said. “My frustration lies in the assumption that one-and-done is how most students will approach their mental affliction.”
Another student, Adrianna Farris, senior entertainment management major, described similar concerns regarding continuity of care and access to longer-term services.
Farris said she initially expected consistent counseling through the university, but instead experienced changes in providers and limited follow-up after her appointment.
“I did not feel that there was consistent follow-up, or any follow-up whatsoever, after my appointment,” Farris said.
She added that while she was referred to outside providers for more specialized care, the cost of those services made them inaccessible.
“If I could change one thing, it would be to have professionals or students who specialize in certain areas of therapy, such as trauma or eating disorders, so that students can have access to mental health services without paying an arm and a leg,” she said.
According to the CAPS website, the center continues to explore ways to expand accessibility and improve student mental health services.
Mental health support at UCF also extends into campus safety through crisis intervention training for law enforcement. Sgt. Terrell Alexander of the UCF Police Department said nearly all officers receive training designed to help them respond more effectively to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Alexander said the training focuses on communication and de-escalation in real time.
“The CIT training allows us to communicate effectively in the middle of a crisis… it gives us that additional cushion and skill set to identify and appropriately address and identify resources for that particular student,” Alexander said.
He said officers are also trained to rely on calm presence and active listening when responding to mental health-related calls.
Peer-led organizations also play a role in expanding mental health awareness on campus.
Sarah Velez-Osorio, senior psychology major and vice president of the UCF chapter of Active Minds, said outreach efforts help reduce stigma and encourage students to seek support.
She said the university could improve awareness of lesser-known resources, including biofeedback, meditation and yoga-based stress-reduction programs.
Osorio said increasing visibility of these resources could help more students access available support.
“This is how we get the conversation going about mental health and its importance, and also educate more people,” she said.
Student-led initiatives have also expanded efforts to connect students with resources across campus.
The Student Body Advocacy Committee hosted a Mental Health Awareness Fair in the Student Union on March 12, bringing together student organizations and campus departments.
“The main goal behind organizing the Mental Health Awareness Fair was to make students aware of various resources UCF has to offer,” said Mila Teodorescu, a sophomore psychology major and chair of the committee.
Student senators sit in the Charge On Chamber before the start of the Student Government Senate meeting Thursday night, where a bill establishing the Health and Wellness Caucus was later approved.
Keyla Franklin
She added that the event also aimed to remind students they are not alone in their journey through college.
Looking ahead, the student government recently approved the creation of a Health and Wellness Caucus aimed at improving coordination between student-led initiatives and campus mental health resources.
As UCF continues to expand its mental health services, students describe a system that offers accessible entry points to care while still facing challenges in communication, continuity and long-term support.