Campus News

Check out the latest news, articles and blogs on college mental health issues.

UConn’s mental health services reaches out to students at Fresh Check Day - The Daily Campus (UConn); 4/28/13; UConn hosted its first Fresh Check Day at the Student Union quad attracting large crowds of students to learn more about the mental health resources offered on campus. Large blow up tents were set up with various booths that offered students information and relaxing activities they could participate in. The yoga tent offered to teach different techniques to reduce stress. There was The Conduit Center where students could receive a vibrational massage using gongs and other low-key instruments. 

Depression Runs High Among College Athletes - NAMI; 4/25/13; A new study suggests that changes in lifestyle and loss of personal identity may put college athletes at an increased risk for depression. The study, published in Sports Health, was conducted at the Georgetown University Medical Center and revealed depression levels were significantly higher in current college athletes compared to graduated college athletes. 

Experts Bring Insight to University’s Mental Health Conference - Dateline Dominguez (Cal State Dominguez Hills); 4/23/13; One in four American adults experience a mental health disorder in a given year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and those from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to have access to mental health services and quality care. To address these and other related issues, experts in the field will share some of their insights with an expected audience of more than 200 students, faculty, and guests during the Third Annual Latino Mental Health Conference at California State University, Dominguez Hills, on Friday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the Loker Student Union ballroom. 

College Week: Mental Health Crisis - HuffPost Live; 4/23/13; National surveys show nearly half the students who seek help from counseling centers are coping with serious mental illness. Are resources adequate? Why aren’t colleges doing enough? (Video) 

More students visiting counseling centers than ever - The Journal (Webster University); 4/17/13; The number of college students that are visiting on-campus counseling centers is at an all time high and increasing. In a report from the Association for Universities and College Counseling Centers, “The number of college students with severe psychological problems continues to increase.” The most common problems are anxiety, depression and relationship issues. These issues are sending students to seek help with the resources on campus. 

Forum aims to raise mental health awareness - The Brownsville Herald; 4/15/13; The Student Health Services-Campus Suicide Prevention Program at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College aims to bring awareness to mental health illnesses through a forum today on de-stigmatizing mental health. 

Second annual suicide prevention walk draws more than 200 to UW campus - The Daily (University of Washington); 4/14/13; John Camacho walked on the Burke-Gilman Trail with his teacup Chihuahua prancing at his feet and four beaded necklaces of different colors jingling at his own neck. More than 200 people, Camacho included, participated in the second annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk on April 13 to spread awareness of suicide, honor loved ones, and provide support for those connected to suicide loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2012, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people 15 to 24 years old. 

'Harvard Speaks Up' About Mental Health - Harvard Crimson; 4/8/13; Students, administrators, professors, and alumni from across the Harvard community are speaking up and sharing their personal experiences with mental illness and stress as part of the newly launched “Harvard Speaks Up” online video series. 

NEWS’ VIEW: Getting help for mental health - Yale Daily News; 4/8/13; Yalies want to talk about mental health issues. As a campus, we are largely able to discuss the stresses and challenges that we all face as Yalies in a high-intensity academic environment, but our conversation falters when we are confronted by more serious, long-term problems. 

No shame in asking for help; it could save your life - The Daily Campus (UConn); 4/8/13; Erik could not wait to get back onto campus. That wasn’t because he was excited to see his friends, or to party. No. Coming to campus was an escape. Being at home constantly reminded Erik of his recent split with his hometown girlfriend. Everything from the small coffee shop they used to hang out in, to the rooms in his house where they used to spend time brought heart-sinking feelings that could not be shaken. 

Initiative ends silence about Asian American mental health - University of Illinois at Chicago News Center; 4/2/13; For Asian Americans, it’s often taboo to discuss mental health issues, says Rooshey Hasnain. But a campuswide initiative is breaking through that silence, hosting a series of programs to bring to light the struggles Asian Americans face related to mental health. 

University mental-health resources strained under increased need - USA Today; 03/26/13; Increased demand and lack of adequate staff are two factors contributing to strain on many college and university mental health centers. 

Campus poll: UI students not familiar with on-campus mental health services - The Daily Iowan; 03/25/13; Despite increased outreach efforts, roughly 42 percent of University of Iowa students don’t know how accessible on-campus mental-health services are, and many say that’s because they’ve never considered utilizing those resources. 

Depression, Anxiety Persistent Problems at Universities - BU Today; 03/22/13; Depression and anxiety remain serious problems affecting nearly a quarter of BU students, according to data from a 2012 mental health survey—statistics that reflect a national trend. But there is encouraging news: more students are seeking help. And the University has stepped up efforts to identify and treat students in crisis. 

Mental Illness Among College Students - Pasadena Villa; 03/20/13; The rate of mental illness has been growing exponentially among college students in recent years. The conclusions from a recent study conducted by NAMI and Abbott Laboratories are alarming... 

Mental-Health Breakdown: When Harvard Fails Its Students - The Daily Beast; 03/18/13 After a schizophrenic student said the school failed to help her, calls for reform have escalated. But can colleges realistically both educate and heal?  

Rep. Schakowsky Introduces the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act - eNews Park Forest; 03/14/13; Rep. Jan Schakowsky introduced the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, which would ensure that colleges and universities have the resources and support they need to address the growing mental health needs of campus communities. Colleges and universities are often not equipped to respond to the mental health needs of students. 

Why Is It So Hard for Young Adults to Find Mental-Health Help? - Yahoo News ; 03/13/13; According to a recent story by Kaiser Health News, 92 percent of campus counseling centers surveyed said the number of students seeking counseling has gone up in the past few years. That’s partly because more students are aware of the signs of stress and there’s been more on-campus advertising by the counseling centers. So while it’s good more students are seeking help when they need it, many of the colleges questioned claimed they often don’t have enough staff to handle demand—so students may end up on waiting lists. 

Help is available for college students struggling with mental illness - Baltimore Sun ; 03/12/13; As someone who has struggled with mental illness for over 20 years, I could closely relate to Kevin Rector's article about students having difficulty finding and getting mental health services at their colleges and universities ("Students struggle for mental health services," March 8). I applaud this article, as it brings to light the real need for mental health services for college students. 

Student hopes to spread mental health awareness on campus in conjunction with Rhode Island organization - The Good 5 Cent Cigar; 03/07/13; In response to the shootings in Newtown, Conn. this past January, a University of Rhode Island senior looks to bring awareness and support to people with mental health issues by implementing a National Alliance of Mental Illness club on campus. Danielle Chasse, a sociology major at URI, has been working collaboratively with Chaz Gross, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of NAMI. Together they have worked to help achieve her goal of making URI the first college in Rhode Island with a NAMI on Campus club. 

Colleges struggling with growing demand for mental health services - Baltimore Sun ; 03/07/13; Within a week of arriving on campus this semester, University of Maryland junior Grace Freund felt the familiar symptoms of a depression creeping up — ones she knew to address quickly, lest they slip from her control. 

Seeking out mental-health help on campus - USA Today ; 02/28/13; In a world where more than 42% of college students experience depression and feelings of hopelessness and where the number of college students on psychiatric medications has risen more than 10 percentage points in as many years, a healthy college experience isn’t just about the body, it’s also about the mind. 

Harvard students rally for mental health reform - The Yale Daily News ; 02/26/13; More than 150 Harvard students rallied for mental health reform last Friday afternoon, chanting “Harvard we are MAD” and urging administrators to take a closer look at the university’s mental health services. The protesters gathered just one day after the Harvard Crimson — the campus newspaper — published an anonymous op-ed by a student with schizophrenia, who described his experiences with Harvard’s mental health services and perceived flaws in the system. 

In Sight, Out of Mind - The Harvard Crimson; 02/21/13; You do not become schizophrenic overnight. When I began to hear voices, I told myself that it was some peculiar coping mechanism that was benign and would soon go away. Around the same time I had been in an accident, was dealing with a family crisis, and as a corollary was off-and-on homeless for a few weeks. Such occurrences would make anyone momentarily mad, right? This is what I told the social worker the first time I went to Harvard University Health Services. I was depressed: These were odd shock symptoms that would heal and fade away like bruises. We never talked about the voices. It was a topic that terrified me, and she was no more eager to ask me about them. She encouraged me to drink chamomile tea and to practice breathing exercises to cope with stress. 

GW launches mental health CARE system - The GW Hatchet (George Washington University Student Newspaper); 02/13/13; The University launched an online referral system this semester designed to catch and support students experiencing crises. The CARE Network allows faculty, staff and students to electronically report a student for medical, financial, academic or mental health concerns that could then prompt a coordinated and campus-wide team to offer relevant support services. 

How I Found a Home at School - NAMI Blog; 02/11/13; My freshman year at N.C. State was one of solitude, of isolation and trips home every weekend. Struggling with bouts of depression that had been lingering since high school, I rarely left my room outside of class and meals throughout the entire year, and accordingly, I did not make a single friend. Not knowing where to turn to, I maintained this lifestyle until the beginning of my sophomore year. Then, everything changed. 

Combining psychology and psychiatry services in one office would benefit the student body - The GW Hatchet (George Washington University Student Newspaper); 01/28/13; Everyone knows that getting an appointment at the University Counseling Center isn’t easy. For over a year, the UCC has been under scrutiny, to the extent that it hired a new director with expertise as both a leader and a psychologist. And the center has also offered six free sessions since September 2011, even though it’s costly for the University. But mental health issues still persist – both at GW and across the country. 

Mental Health Survey: College Students Speak - NAMI Blog; 11/13/12; As I imagine most young adults feel, I started my first year of college with nervous anticipation. Going away to college provided a fresh start on a new life but also the pressure to make the most of the opportunity. Also, although I had an exciting future ahead of me, I still had the weight of my past with me that made campus life difficult. 

Mental illness in college students - The Paisano (UTSA's Independent Student Newspaper); 11/13/12; According to a survey report published in October named College Students Speak, released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64 percent of students who have withdrawn from college within the last five years cited a mental health related issue. 

College Students with Mental Health Problems Drop Out - SARDAA; 11/11/12; Sixty-four percent of students who experience mental health problems in college end up withdrawing from school, according to a survey, College Students Speak, released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). 

Reporter's Notebook: Cristina Mendonsa on mental illness in young adults - News10; 11/9/2012; For the 24 years I've been a journalist, one of the unwritten guidelines was that we don't cover suicides.

Managing stress is vital to academic success - The Short Horn (The University of Texas at Arlington); 11/7/12; It's not uncommon for students to withdraw from classes or sink into depression or anxiety at a semester's midpoint, according to numerous national health and wellness studies. But one UTA expert says there are ways to cope and be successful. 

Student-run mental health clinic sees room to grow - The GW Hatchet; 11/1/12; Senior Associate Dean Mark Levine, who oversees wellness issues, said earlier this year that the increase is pushed by a greater number of students who come to college already diagnosed with mental illness. 

Students Rate Mental Health Services - Inside Higher Ed; 10/30/2012; More than 62 percent of students who withdrew from college with mental health problems did so for that reason, a new national survey shows.

Speaker Emphasizes Importance of Mental Health Awareness - The Flat Hat of the College of William and Mary; 10/8/2012; A speaker who visisted the College of William and Mary shares his personal story and the importance of reaching out for help.

Disordered Eating Common Among College Women – Psych Central; 10/1/2012; A multi-disciplinary team of researchers at the University of Michigan have embarked on conducting a comprehensive study on eating disorders that will look at the ways in which individual characteristics and the campus environment influence students’ relationships with dieting, eating, exercise, and body image.

Lehigh participates in study about ADHD's affect on college students – Lehigh Valley Live; 9/27/2012; An article from Lehigh University’s student newspaper highlights that Lehigh University will be participating in a comprehensive national study that will look at how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects college students in multiple areas of their academic and social lives.

NC to help mental health awareness – The Daily Tar Heel; 9/26/2012; University of North Carolina student newspaper reports that the poor quality of the state’s mental health services has caused people of the community to seek out help through the university’s facilities.

Suicides More Common than Traffic Deaths – The Medpage 9/25/2012; Article published by MedPage today reports that researchers have found that over this past decade death from suicide is more prevalent than traffic deaths.

Challenges of Preventing Suicide on College Campuses – Huff Post 9/25/2012; To date suicide on college campuses has been difficult to track. This article discusses important ideas on how to better collect data and prevent suicide on college campuses.

Paul Gilligan: Deep stigma surrounding mental health costs lives – Independent.ie; 9/23/2012; Based on a small study conducted in Dublin, Ireland at St. Patrick University’s Hospital people are highly reluctant to discuss their emotional problems and a deep stigma continues to surround mental health issues.

Alarming numbers on college student mental health – KTHV; 9/17/2012; University of Arkansas at Little Rock reports that college freshmen’s emotional health hit an all-time low last year. This article discusses the importance of reaching out for help when you need it.

College Students and Mental Health –Family Goes Strong; 9/13/2012; Family Goes Strong gives examples on how parents can be helpful in ensuring that their college-age children are being mindful of their mental health while away at college.

LGBT Environment affects Mental Health- Tulane Hullabaloo; 9/13/2012; Studies have shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students on college campuses are particularly vulnerable to mental illness. Read this article written by a psychiatry resident at Tulane University on how the LGBT environment can affect mental health.

Students flood college counseling centers- Ed News Colorado; 9/13/2012; College campuses and universities across the country are seeing a steady increase each year in the number of students who visit on campus counselors and mental health facilities. This article explains the reasons and common stressors in students’ lives that have caused this increase.

Off the Beat: Mind Matters – The Daily Californian 9/9/2012; This article from UC Berkley’s student newspaper discusses Passion Pit’s front man Michael Angelakos struggles with mental illness and how important it is for university students who are experiencing mental health concerns to reach out for help.

Uptick in College Students Seeking Counseling, Financial Support – Wall Street Journal 9/6/2012; Returning back to college for a new year can bring on many stressors, including financial stressors. This article reports that a growing number of students are having increasing financial concerns due to the fact that many are getting less financial support from their parents and have to take out more money in loans.

Colleges find sleep is key to students’ grade average, physical and mental health – The Daily Star 9/5/2012; College health officials report that in order for students to stay in good physical and mental health they must get adequate, regular, and uninterrupted sleep.

Transition to college can be uncertain for young adults – The Times Herald; 9/3/2012; Starting college can bring a mix of emotions and feelings, including stress and uncertainty. This article discusses the importance of recognizing mental health symptoms and seeking help if need.

How to help your college student stay healthy away from home – USA Today; 8/22/2012; This article from US Today offers tips and suggestions for first year college students on how to maintain good physical and mental health as they transition to college.

Going Public with Depression – Kat Kinsman 8/22/2012; CNN writer Kat Kinsman discusses how talking openly with others about your personal mental health issues can help those who share a similar share.

Depression, Lack of Social Support Trigger Suicidal Thoughts in College Students – John Hopkins Children’s Center; 6/28/2012; According to a study conducted by John Hopkins Children Center, University of Maryland and several other institutions symptoms of depression and a lack of a social support system can precipitate suicidal thoughts and d behaviors in college age students.

Harvesting Hope –Psychology Today 6/21/2012; A study published in the journal of Psychological Trauma reports that having hope can play a key role in overcoming trauma.

Heavy Cell Phone Use Linked to Depression, Sleep Problems in Young People – Psych Central 6/17/2012; Research conducted by a team of researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenberg in Sweden have found that extreme use of electronic devices may be linked to stress, symptoms of depression, and sleep disorders.

Painkiller Abuse Linked to Depression, Suicide in College Students – Science Daily 6/11/2012; Review of a recently conducted and published study that looked at the relationship between non-medical prescription drug use and symptom s of depression in college students.

Using Social Media to Prevent Suicide- The Atlantic; 4/18/2012; This article reports that the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine organization has recently developed an add-on to the Facebook chat that allows users to report activity to Facebook that indicate suicidal behavior.

Bonnie Reports College Mental Health Survey Results - Virginia Law; 9/13/2010; Professor Richard Bonnie testified before state lawmakers last week about the results of a mental health survey of Virginia’s colleges and universities.