By Sarah Ladd

Kentucky Lantern

About two-thirds of Kentucky community college students surveyed last year say they have experienced depression or anxiety while 1 in 5 reported engaging in “self-injurious behavior.”

In response, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System is launching a Mental Health Strategy for its roughly 100,000 students.

KCTCS President Ryan Quarles told the Lantern that since taking on his role in 2023, he’s sought to prioritize mental health.

“We know that …. half of all community college students across the country struggle with mental health issues , and the report that we see here clearly shows that Kentucky is higher than national averages,” he said. “So, we still have to learn from other states, but the need is very severe right now.”

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