College Planning & Scholarship Guide for Students with Mental Health Conditions

There’s no better time than the present to explore opportunities to help make higher education more accessible for every student — including those managing mental health conditions.

Watching your child prepare for college is exciting. But for parents of students with mental health challenges, it can also bring unique questions to mind about emotional support, available accommodations, and potential scholarships to ease financial stress. 

This guide offers practical, compassionate advice to help parents and guardians support their child’s college journey — from planning for the transition to finding scholarships for students with disabilities and mental challenges.

This support is more important than ever: about 70% of college students report struggling with their mental health since starting college, and 41% of students screen positive for clinically significant depression symptoms.

Understanding What Your Student Needs to Thrive

Choosing the right college goes beyond just academics. The community your student is about to enter can shape their experience and encourage their success.

Every student’s success depends on the right support system. For students with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, OCD, or bipolar disorder, that may mean choosing a campus where wellness is prioritized and mental health services are accessible.

Consider factors such as:

• Mental health accommodations, including flexible attendance policies or quiet testing environments
• Availability of on-campus counseling and wellness programs
• Faculty trained in supporting students with psychiatric conditions 
• Campus culture around mental health awareness
• Housing and quiet spaces for rest or self-regulation
• Access to nearby medical providers or telehealth options

Many families benefit from Sevita’s family behavioral health services, which offer outpatient, in-home, and trauma support for youth and families.

College Accommodations for Anxiety, Depression, and More

The move from high school to college can be an emotional shift for any young adult. For students with mental health conditions, having a college transition plan in place can make all the difference. 

If your child has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD, or another mental health condition, they’re entitled to reasonable college accommodations for mental health under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This also applies to online courses.

Common college accommodations for anxiety and depression include:

• Priority course registration to build manageable schedules
• Reduced-distraction testing spaces
• Extended deadlines during flare-ups or treatment
• Access to emotional support animals in campus housing
• Flexible attendance policies for therapy or medical appointments

These accommodations are critical: research shows that due to mental health struggles, over half (51%) of college students have skipped class, 1 in 3 failed a test, and nearly 1 in 3 (29%) failed a class. Additionally, mental health problems significantly predict poor academic performance, making early intervention and support essential.

The key is to connect with the campus disability services office early, ideally before the semester begins. Together, you can ensure your student’s needs are documented, and their accommodations are in place from the start. 

Scholarships for Students with Mental Health Conditions

Paying for college can be stressful for families, especially when a student is also managing a mental health condition. The good news is that several organizations offer scholarships for students with mental health conditions, recognizing their resilience, determination, and potential. 

Below are verified, reputable opportunities your family can explore:

Scholarships for Students with Mental Health Conditions 

• The Frederick J. Krause Scholarship: Supports students with disabilities who are pursuing studies that advance the field of disability and health.
• INCIGHT Scholarship: Open to students with any disability recognized under the ADA, DSM-V, IDEA, or similar guidelines — including mental health diagnoses.
• The Quell Foundation Survivor Scholarship: Created to support students with diagnosed mental illness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
• The Prochnow Foundation Annual Scholarship: Awarded to one high-achieving student annually who has a diagnosed mental illness.
• Andrew Q. Peschard Memorial Scholarship (The Aslan Foundation): Supports students who have demonstrated resilience in the face of mental health challenges.
• Jack Scura Fund Annual Scholarship: Designed for students with “special needs,” including psychiatric or mental health disabilities.

Scholarships for Anxiety, OCD, and Depression

While these scholarships are not condition-specific, many are open to students living with anxiety, OCD, depression, or other mental health diagnoses:

• Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship: For students of any educational level who have personally experienced mental health challenges or supported loved ones living with them.
• Hearts of Hope Scholarship: For young people who have survived trauma, including emotional trauma, and are rebuilding their lives.

Scholarships for Bipolar Disorder and Related Conditions

• The Baer Reintegration Scholarship: Created for students diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder who are pursuing education as part of their reintegration journey.
• The Jared Monroe Foundation Scholarship: Awarded to students currently in treatment for bipolar disorder who demonstrate academic promise.

Scholarships for PTSD or Trauma-Related Mental Health Conditions

• Heroes Fund Scholarship: For U.S. service members and veterans who have experienced combat-related PTSD or disabilities. Also open to military spouses whose loved ones were killed in action.

Scholarships Supporting Mental Health Advocacy

• NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship: Recognizes students with disabilities — including mental health conditions — who want to improve media representation.
• JED’s Student Voice of Mental Health Award: Honors students raising awareness, improving peer support, and leading mental health initiatives on campus.

Scholarships for Students With Disabilities (Including Mental Health Conditions)

These are not mental-health-specific but fully include psychiatric disabilities:

• Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship for High School Seniors: For high school seniors with disabilities entering a four-year college in the U.S. or Canada.
• Johnson & Johnson Access-Ability Lime Scholarship: Supports college students with disabilities pursuing STEM or healthcare fields.
• BMO Capital Markets Equity Through Education Scholarship: For undergraduate or graduate students with disabilities interested in financial services or capital markets.
• Wells Fargo Stacey Milbern Scholarship: For students with disabilities seeking education or career training.

Additional Resources to Find More Scholarships 

There are also several websites to help you seek out more specific opportunities for your student:

• Bold.org aggregates thousands of scholarships available to students with disabilities. 
• Scholly Scholarships offers thousands of scholarships, with more than 100 designated for students with mental health conditions and physical disabilities. 
• Scholarships.com helps those with mental impairments find and apply for awards. 

Even small scholarships can ease financial pressure and affirm your child’s efforts and achievements. Encourage them to apply early and often.

Ways to Help Your Student Prepare for the Transition to College

The shift from high school to college can be daunting, especially for those with ongoing mental health care needs. A proactive college transition plan can help minimize anxiety and foster independence.

Here are some ideas for how family members and supporters can help your student prepare for the next step in their education.

• Establish a mental health care plan. Ensure continuity of care by transferring prescriptions and finding local or virtual therapists before move-in day. 

• Encourage balance, not perfection. Remind your student that it’s okay to take breaks, drop a class if needed, or seek help without shame.

• Stay in touch, but give space. Check in regularly while giving your student room to build their independence and confidence.

Building a Foundation for Mental Wellness in College

Supporting a student’s mental health in college is about helping them build and adjust their daily routines to promote wellness and balance. This allows them to focus on their studies and grow as individuals. 

Parents can help by encouraging:

• Consistent sleep, meal, and exercise schedules
• Use of mindfulness or journaling as coping tools
• Boundaries between study, social time, and rest
• Regular check-ins with family or mentors for accountability and encouragement

College can be unpredictable, but structure and self-awareness can help students handle challenges with resilience. This isn't just good advice: it's backed by research: students with healthier lifestyle behaviors show significantly reduced associations between mental health problems and poor academic performance, highlighting how daily habits can buffer against mental health challenges.

Managing Academic Stress and Study Success

Balancing coursework with mental health can feel overwhelming, but understanding the connection between the two is the first step toward success.

Research shows that almost 90% of students say their mental health disrupts their ability to study or complete assignments at least occasionally, with students reporting more negative emotions than positive ones while studying — including anxiety (41%), boredom (39%), and frustration (37%).

Importantly, students with learning disabilities experience significantly more anxiety, with 70% of students with learning differences experiencing more anxiety symptoms than students without learning disabilities.

Here are some strategies to help your student manage academic stress:

• Create a realistic study schedule that includes regular breaks and accounts for therapy appointments or mental health needs
• Encourage the use of campus tutoring and academic support services before small challenges become overwhelming
• Help them identify their peak productivity times and structure study sessions accordingly
• Normalize asking for help from professors during office hours or through disability services
• Support healthy study habits like the Pomodoro Technique or study groups that reduce isolation
• Remind them that grades don't define their worth, especially during difficult mental health periods

Remember, academic success isn't just about grades—it's about building sustainable habits that support both learning and wellbeing.

The Power of Friendship and Social Connection

While academics are important, the friendships your student forms in college can be just as vital to their success and mental health. Social connections aren't just nice to have—they're essential for wellbeing.

The research is clear: 61% of adults view close friendships as extremely important for a fulfilling life, ranking higher than marriage, children, or wealth. For young adults specifically, early social ties during young adulthood have long-lasting effects: forming friendships in the first few weeks of college can increase the likelihood of flourishing and reduce the likelihood of developing depressive symptoms over subsequent years.

Strong friendships serve as a protective factor: higher social connectedness protects against depressive symptoms and disorders, and close friendship strength during adolescence predicts better mental health well into young adulthood.

For students with mental health challenges, the right social environment matters even more. Students in residential communities where members are more interconnected report lower levels of psychological distress and higher life satisfaction.

Ways to help your student build meaningful connections:

• Encourage them to join clubs or organizations related to their interests, not just their major
• Remind them that quality matters more than quantity—a few close friends provide more support than many acquaintances
• Support their involvement in mental health support groups or peer-led wellness communities on campus
• Normalize saying "yes" to social invitations, even when anxiety makes it difficult
• Help them find balance between alone time for self-care and social time for connection
• Validate their friendships and the time they invest in maintaining them—it's not a distraction from academics, it's essential for success

If your student struggles with social anxiety or making connections, many campuses offer friendship-building programs, social skills groups, or peer mentorship opportunities through their counseling centers.

Empowering Your Student to Succeed

In addition to academics and finances, college planning for students with mental health conditions should focus on building confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. With the right preparation, resources, and emotional support, your student can thrive both in and out of the classroom. 

With thoughtful preparation, access to mental health accommodations in college, and the right financial resources like OCD or anxiety scholarships, your student can thrive both academically and personally.

Remind your student to be proud of themselves! Every step toward higher education, no matter how small, reflects their strength and perseverance. 

The goal isn’t just to get into college, but to help each individual live well, learn, and grow into the fullest version of themselves. 

If your family wants help with behavioral health support as you begin this transition, you can learn more about our behavioral health services and how we partner with families to serve adolescents through age 21.