College Mental Health Crisis: How Students Can Combat Depression & Anxiety

Are there new treatment options for college students living with depression?

Mental health challenges are rising at an alarming rate among young people—and college campuses are feeling the impact. Nearly half of students report depressive symptoms, and conventional treatments aren’t enough for many of them.

But what if just changing what you eat could offer new hope?

A recent pilot study out of The Ohio State University found that a ketogenic diet led to rapid and clinically significant improvements in depression symptoms among college students—with a 37% average reduction in depression scores in just two weeks, increasing to a 71% increase at 12 weeks.

In this conversation, lead study investigator Drew Decker sits down with Drs. Georgia Ede and Bret Scher to discuss how his group was able to help 100% of completing participants experience clinically significant improvements in depression and the real-world feasibility of implementing ketogenic therapy in student populations.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• The current state of mental health on college campuses
• The factors contributing to the decline in youth mental health
• The potential of ketogenic therapy for major depressive disorder
• How OSU students were able to stay in ketosis 73% of the time
• What colleges can do to better support mental wellness through nutrition

Students are searching for better options and they deserve more than just symptom management. They deserve access to therapies that could improve their quality of life and transform their futures.

To learn more about the KIND study, check out our other content:

• Mini-Documentary: https://youtu.be/RZYjV9bo0SI
• Dr. Volek & Decker Interview: https://youtu.be/kN0kHPVM3lw
• Blog Post: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/news-views/blog/perspectives-in-metabolic-psychiatry/new-research-a-ketogenic-diet-improved-depression-in-college-students/

Experts Featured:

Drew Decker, OSU researcher

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drew_d_decker/

Dr. Georgia Ede, MD

• Website: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
• Book: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind
• YouTube: ‪@GeorgiaEdeMD‬
• X: https://x.com/GeorgiaEdeMD
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/georgiaedemd/

Resources Mentioned

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03544-8

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits:

https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.