Students in Crisis: Mental Health & Suicide
on College Campuses

Excerpt from Katie Couric's in-depth look at a mental health epidemic

College students are reporting that they’re more depressed and anxious than ever before and are pouring into overwhelmed college counseling centers for help, often waiting weeks for appointments. Universities are attempting to respond but haven’t kept up with the crisis.

“We know that colleges have actually increased their staffing and increased their budgets in many, many cases,” said Dr. Victor Schwartz, the medical director for the JED Foundation and the former medical director of counseling services at New York University. “It hasn’t kept up with the demand. As much as they seem to increase, students are coming in. There does seem to be a very, very large need.”

It’s unclear what’s driving the dramatic decrease in emotional health on campus. It’s possible more students now feel comfortable seeking help in the first place, instead of bottling up their problems. But many college counseling centers are ill-equipped to deal with these students’ more complicated mental health issues.

“Colleges are slammed, and services are lacking,” she said.

There’s also clearly a societal and cultural element at play. New York Times columnist Frank Bruni said that college administrators overwhelmingly describe today’s students as “fragile.” They’re seeing less resilience and adaptability in students today than even those from a decade earlier. Some blame over-involved parenting styles that put intense pressure on kids to succeed.

Please click here to continue reading and watch the videos. It's a fascinating and heart-wrenching look into the difficulties college kids face today. It examines how parenting styles, societal expectations, and mental health care access and education all play large parts in the issue. 
  
From Mental Health America of Franklin County/ Wellness Wednesday from MHAFC

May is Mental Health Month

Mental Health America, its affiliates, and other advocates from around the country have celebrated Mental Health Month every May since 1949. During this month, we reach millions of people with messages of and resources for health and hope. Mental Health America of Licking County (MHALC) is proud to be affiliated with the national organization that started this tradition. And we’re just as proud that it has been embraced so universally.

2015’s Mental Health Month theme is “B4Stage4”. Here’s why: Mental health concerns are no different from any other physical health concerns. They should be thought about and treated the same way – long before they reach Stage 4.

Mental Health America of Licking County dedicates itself to overall wellness including mental health. We work for prevention for all; for early identification and intervention for those at risk; for integrated health, behavioral health and other services for those who need them; and for recovery as a goal. For too long, mental health issues have not been framed this way. Instead, too many people have been trapped in Stage 4 thinking about them. They wait until after a crisis – until someone is a danger to themselves or others – before they act. This is wrong. We don’t do this for cancer, heart disease or diabetes. We shouldn’t do it for mental health concerns either.

So this May, we’re asking everyone to help us turn the attention of our nation upstream – before mental health concerns become mental health crises. That’s really what acting before Stage 4 is all about. Contact MHALC at 740-522-1341 or mhalc@alink.com for information to help a friend or a loved one with mental health issues. Go to www.mhalc.org for free online mental health screenings. Let us know if you would like to participate in a Mental Health First Aid training or if your organization or company would like a presentation on any mental health issue. 

Penny Sitler

Executive Director

Mental Health America of Licking County