Advising in the Age of Burnout: Strategies for Supporting Students

The pressures of college life are greater than ever. Between academic expectations, financial strain, personal responsibilities, and social pressures, students today are navigating a minefield of mental and emotional stressors.

Academic advisors are often the first line of support, uniquely positioned to identify signs of burnout and connect students to appropriate resources. As burnout and mental health concerns exist on campuses nationwide, it is imperative for advisors to develop proactive strategies to support student well-being.

Why This Matters Now

The prevalence of student mental health challenges is staggering. According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), over 70% of students reported experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress in the past year.

As front-line educators and mentors, academic advisors are key players in the institutional response to this concern. Their regular contact with students allows them to build trust, observe behavioral changes, and guide students toward a healthier academic experience.

Practical Strategies for Advisors

1. Recognize the Signs of Burnout and Mental Health Struggles

Advisors should familiarize themselves with common indicators of student burnout, including chronic fatigue, decreased academic performance, irritability, withdrawal from social or academic engagements, and expressions of hopelessness. Training in Mental Health First Aid or partnering with campus counseling centers for workshops can help advisors develop the awareness and confidence needed to intervene early.

2. Normalize Help-Seeking Behavior

Students may fear stigma or feel embarrassed about reaching out for mental health support. Advisors can play a critical role in destigmatizing mental health conversations by openly discussing the importance of self-care, referring to counseling services without judgment, and sharing campus resources. Phrasing like “Many students I work with find it helpful to talk to someone when they’re feeling overwhelmed” can be a gentle nudge toward professional help. Talk about this as a team at your next staff meeting, brainstorming together to best respond to your students.

3. Collaborate with Campus Partners

No advisor can (or should) do it all alone. Establish strong connections with campus counseling centers, disability services, tutoring, financial aid, and other support services. Develop a warm referral process, personally introducing students to key staff or walking them to their next appointment, can increase follow-through. Schedule cross-departmental meetings, brainstorming ways to collaborate more for student success, and how to best refer students from one service to another.

4. Encourage Time Management and Self-Care Planning

Burnout often stems from poor time management and a lack of balance. Advisors can help students create realistic schedules that prioritize not only academics but also downtime, exercise, sleep, and social interaction. Introduce students to time management tools, apps, and techniques like the Pomodoro method or weekly planning templates. Using worksheets like this can help facilitate these conversations and screen for potential issues.

5. Offer Flexible Advising Options

Accessibility matters. Offer a variety of meeting modalities (video, phone, in-person) and be available at a wider range of days and times. Students experiencing burnout may struggle to keep appointments; provide flexibility and grace, and consider brief check-ins or nudges via text or email. Review your office’s procedures for what happens when a student “no-shows” for an appointment. This could be a sign of distress. Reach out to these students in a personalized and warm way, without judgment, helping them to reschedule an appointment.

6. Practice Advisor Self-Care

Supporting students in distress can take a toll on advisors, too. Burnout is a factor in advisor attrition. Recognize your own signs of burnout and seek support from coworkers, your supervisor, human resources, your professional mentor, and family or friends.

Conclusion

Advising in the age of burnout requires empathy, vigilance, and collaboration. By developing proactive, research-informed strategies to support students’ mental health, academic advisors not only help students succeed academically, but they also become key contributors to a more compassionate and resilient campus culture.