Mental Health Needs Seen Growing at Colleges

[Hannah Bell]

Stony Brook is typical of American colleges and universities these days, where national surveys show that nearly half of the students who visit counseling centers are coping with serious mental illness, more than double the rate a decade ago. More students take psychiatric medication, and there are more emergencies requiring immediate action.

Experts say the trend is partly linked to effective psychotropic drugs (Wellbutrin for depression, Adderall for attention disorder, Abilify for bipolar disorder) that have allowed students to attend college who otherwise might not have functioned in a campus setting.

There is also greater awareness of traumas scarcely recognized a generation ago and a willingness to seek help for those problems, including bulimia, self-cutting and childhood sexual abuse...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/health/20campus.html?_r=1&hp


As per usual, the venerable Times doesn't mention social factors as possible contributors to the increase in mental health visits. Nothing to do with unemployment & related stresses on families, competitive pressures, etc. -- it's because psych drugs are sooooo effective that people who would have been in asylums 30 years ago are in college today!

An excellent example of a "news" article that goes on for several pages & tells you absolutely nothing worth knowing. A bunch of anecdotes strung together.

[maryf]

1. "The depression screenings are part of a program

to enlist students to monitor the mental health of peers..." that is scary. recommend for your critique.

[get the red out]

2. More awareness also

Almost 30 years ago I was told by a Psychiatrist that I "shouldn't be depressed" because I had a scholarship to college waiting on me. I wish someone had given me some sort of inpatient treatment, it might have saved me some grief. People had a skewed view of depression back then. My mother was ashamed and frantic that I might "turn out like my aunt". Well, genetics DUH! I made it through and graduated, scared to death of letting people down more than I already had, which really wasn't the best thing for my overall health and wellbeing. Back then, I never even knew that a person could take a break from college and return, I thought if you left it was over.

I don't doubt that the stresses of the time are playing a big role in more young people suffering. But I feel that it being more acceptable for someone to admit to suffering from a psychiatric illness now must be playing a role also.