College Survey: 50 Percent of College Students with Mental Health Problems Who Withdraw from School Because of Mental Health Issues Never Access College Mental Health Services

College Survey: 50 Percent of College Students with Mental Health Problems Who Withdraw from School Because of Mental Health Issues Never Access College Mental Health Services

Posted on December 6, 2012

ARLINGTON, VA, Dec. 6, 2012 —Sixty-four percent of students who experience mental health problems in college and withdraw from school do so because of their mental health issues, according to a survey report, College Students Speak, released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Of that group, 50 percent never access college mental health services.

A total of 765 students living with mental illness took the survey. Ten percent were no longer in school..
The 20-page survey report is available at www.nami.org/collegesurvey.

Additional findings include:

• Overall, 70 percent of the students who responded to the survey rated campus services and supports as "excellent" or "good."

• Almost 80 percent of the total group identified mental health training for college faculty and staff as "extremely important" for mental health awareness on campus.

• Only 22 percent said they had learned about college mental health services through faculty or staff.

• Many students considered college Disability Resource Centers (DRCs) to be unhelpful because they primarily focus on physical conditions—or professors do not honor DRC-approved accommodations

NAMI conducted the survey from August to November 2011. The results were released for the first time on Oct. 31, 2012.

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About NAMI

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.

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