Behind polished social media feeds and packed calendars lies a quiet challenge facing undergraduates across the country: the overwhelming expectation of how their college years are supposed to unfold.

But as academic pressure mounts and social expectations take over, that ideal vision quickly becomes blurry.

That reality is backed by national data. According to reporting by Emily Salmon for the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, nearly 70% of college students reported experiencing a mental or behavioral health concern in the past year, based on findings from UnitedHealthcare.

To address the growing student isolation, TCU Student Affairs and the Counseling & Mental Health Center hosted a campus screening of the documentary short “College Unscripted” on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

A graph from the UnitedHealthcare Young Adult and College Student Behavioral Health Report detailing the incidence of mental health concerns among college students compared to their non-enrolled peers. (Graphic courtesy of UnitedHealthcare / SCHEV)

Directed by Jason Reid and produced by Dana Christian Lee alongside Dr. Eric Wood, “College Unscripted,” a project under the broader “Tell My Story” initiative, focuses on the contrast between public perception and the personal struggles students face when transitioning to college life.

Rather than relying on traditional administrative lectures or clinical advice, the documentary relies on students sharing their own stories and how they overcame their struggles with isolation.

The documentary’s focus reflects broader trends across higher education. According to the 2024–2025 Healthy Minds Study, 37% of college students screened positive for moderate or severe depression, while 33% screened positive for moderate or severe anxiety. Furthermore, nearly one in four students reported feeling regularly isolated from others.

After the screening, Reid highlighted how modern campus pressures differ from past generations.

“I think that when I went to college, I packed up a U-Haul, I drove off… but there wasn’t a lot of pressure,” Reid said. “The pressure on all of the students today is so much greater, whether in high school, elementary school, or college, than it ever was.”

Following the film, student cast members took the stage for a Q&A panel to discuss the reality of putting their personal struggles on camera for the campus community to see.

Monyette Whitlock, a junior acting major and cast member in the film, reflected on why he decided to share his story publicly.

A promotional poster for the “College Unscripted” documentary on display outside the Tucker Family Ballroom. (TCU 360/Tanner Higgs)

“Ultimately, what made me put my personal story on the screen was I was kind of… running away from it, I would say,” Whitlock said. “A young gentleman told me that my story could potentially help someone else in a similar situation… so that’s ultimately just putting my fear to the side.”

When asked what advice he would offer to peers dealing with similar struggles, Whitlock mentioned the impact of his faith.

“I would say God helped me,” Whitlock said. “I would say go to God with it, and also I would say put action to your faith as well. So praying, yes, reading your word, yes, but also putting yourself in good situations as opposed to negative ones.”

For many in attendance, hearing classmates speak openly about feeling isolated behind a mask of campus involvement struck a personal chord.

“You are never truly alone,” said Kalah Guthrie, a junior marketing and communications double major who attended the screening. “Having a community surrounding you and leaning on them when things get hard is what truly matters.”

Representatives from the Counseling & Mental Health Center emphasized that peer-led storytelling can provide an accessible entry point for students who might otherwise feel intimidated by clinical settings.