The NC Student Debt Relief Coalition is proud to partner with Dr. Daniel Collier from the University of Memphis on groundbreaking research that reveals the urgent mental health crisis facing student loan borrowers. His findings demand our immediate attention and action.
An Alarming Reality
Dr. Collier’s preliminary data shows a devastating pattern: 23% of student loan borrowers are experiencing suicidal ideation. Even more concerning, among Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) participants, the numbers paint an even darker picture—with significant percentages making concrete plans and attempts at self-harm.
Dr. Collier’s preliminary data also shows that confidence in servicers, the federal government as a lender, and in usually-trusted sources of information is seeing a major drop off. Only about 8% of respondents trust their loan servicer to give them accurate information – the same servicers responsible for setting payment amounts, billing schedules, and accurately reporting their information for forgiveness programs.
Statistics from Dr. Collier’s preliminary research findings, 2025
These statistics represent our neighbors, colleagues, and community members who are drowning under the weight of student debt while trying to serve our communities through public service careers. Even their best efforts to get the information they need to pay back their debt often results inaccurate and even harmful guidance from the institutions that are supposed to help guide them. You can read powerful first-hand accounts from borrowers at Dr. Collier’s collection of borrower stories, which puts human faces and experiences to these devastating numbers.
A Crisis Getting Worse
The data reveals that borrower mental health has deteriorated significantly over time. Confidence in both federal government guidance and loan servicer support has “dropped off the cliff” in recent months, leaving borrowers feeling abandoned and hopeless. Recent policy changes—including threats to Income-Driven Repayment options and extended timelines—are pushing already vulnerable borrowers to their breaking point.
How You Can Help
Dr. Collier’s research, “Balancing the Burden: Exploring the Impact of Student Loan Debt on Subjective Well-Being,” builds on his previous groundbreaking work with the Student Borrower Protection Center examining PSLF borrowers’ experiences. His research has already documented the transformative power of debt relief and the vital role of borrower communities in navigating complex systems. Now, this new study needs your voice to document the current crisis and advocate for life-saving policy changes.
If you’re in an Income-Driven Repayment plan and/or the PSLF program, please participate:
- Complete a brief 12-minute survey
- Share your experience in optional interviews or focus groups
- Help build the evidence base for better borrower protections
Your participation is completely confidential and could be entered into a lottery for gift cards totaling $2,300.
Password: REPAYE
Why This Matters to Us
When nearly a quarter of borrowers are contemplating suicide, we’re facing a public health emergency. This research will provide crucial evidence to policymakers about the human cost of our broken student loan system. Your story matters, and your participation could help save lives by informing better policies and support systems. Together, we can transform this data into action.
Stay tuned: We recently recorded a podcast with Dr. Collier diving deeper into these findings and what they mean for borrowers and advocates. The episode will be available soon, and we’ll share it across our channels.