How to Design Psychological Support Services for University Students: A Free Manual
A Growing Need Across Universities
How to Design Psychological Support Services for University Students: A Free Manual starts with an urgent challenge:in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, universities have faced growing demand for student psychological support.The pandemic intensified anxiety, depression, loneliness, social isolation, and uncertainty among students. Moreover, a European study found that university students’ mental health during COVID-19 fell considerably below pre-pandemic levels.
Although recent indicators suggest some improvement, the need remains substantial. According to the2024–2025 Healthy Minds Study, 37% of surveyed students reported moderate or severe depressive symptoms, while 32% experienced moderate or severe anxiety. Furthermore, 38% received counseling or therapy during the previous year, up from 36% in 2023–2024. Therefore, universities need accessible, professional, and sustainable support systems.
How to Design Psychological Support Services for University Students Step by Step
Against this background,i-strategiesin collaboration with university project partners, decided to produce a practical manual for universities that do not yet offer psychological help services or want to strengthen their existing systems. The guide draws onRiga Technical University’sconcrete experience and the excellent work of Viktorija Gaina, Marta Rubina and Liga Ancite.
i-strategies conceived and leads the EuropeanAcademies4Ukraineproject as its lead partner, with support from the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme. Within this initiative, the consortium combined practical experience, international frameworks, research findings, and partner case studies. As a result,the manual provides a clear roadmap that institutions within and beyond Europe can adapt to their own needs, resources, and regulatory environments.
Rather than proposing a single model, the guide helps each university design the most appropriate solution for its community. First, it explains how to identify the institution’s purpose and assess student needs. Next, it covers delivery systems, internal and external resources, service locations, interventions, staffing, accessibility, safety, and confidentiality. Finally, it explains how to monitor results and improve services over time.
How to Design Psychological Support Services for University Students That Last
The manual organizes this process into nine practical steps and complements them with 12 worksheets.Consequently, university leaders, student affairs teams, psychologists, faculty members, and service coordinators can turn its recommendations intoan actionable plan.
In addition, the guide examines risks such as limited funding, staff shortages, stigma, inclusion gaps, weak institutional coordination, and external crises. It also explores individual and group counseling, peer support, online services, referral pathways, disability support, and responsible uses of digital tools.
Above all, we make this manual freely available because every student deserves timely and appropriate support. By helping universities create effective services, we hope to improve students’ psychological well-being, health, academic participation, and ability to thrive.
We warmly thank the Riga Technical University team for their outstanding work.