“Wait Until Things Get Really Bad”
This seems to be the philosophy of many college students regarding seeking counseling for mental health issues. At least, that’s one conclusion that could be drawn from a study recently released by the Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health (CSCMH) based at Penn State University. Counseling centers at institutions nationwide, 137 in all, participate in the CSCMH. The recently released study is a pilot, so there will be comparison numbers in the future.
One alarming statistic from the study: One in four college students who have visited a campus counseling center for mental health reasons has seriously considered suicide. This may indicate students delay seeking help, waiting until things seem very dire. Mental health issues still carry a stigma, and many college students likely feel they are young and invincible, even to the mental demands of college and young adult life.
Some students are likely pressed to accomplish and experience too much, in too many arenas, all at once. A recent New Yorker article discusses the use of “neuroenhancing” drugs, such as those prescribed for ADHD, and how students use these to pack as much as possible into every 24-hour cycle. College–and life–pulls students in many directions, and with little or no sleep or food, students using neuroenhancer drugs party, study, attend meetings, write papers and generally run themselves ragged. The article goes on to discuss how this mindset is expressed in the post-college world as well.
Tags: Mental Health, Students