College can be overwhelming. New friends, new school, new location. Many students who go away often end up feeling homesick shortly after they move in. There’s also the added layer of extra responsibility, first jobs for some, and balancing this new work and school life. College students end up running themselves as thin as tissue paper trying to keep up with the increasing demands of college life. So much is expected of college students and sometimes it gets to be too much. This article is for students dealing with depression and other mental health issues on campus. We see you and we hear you. We’re here to help you.
Astounding Statistics
“From 2009 to 2015, the number of students visiting counseling centers increased by about 30% on average, while university enrollment grew by less than 6%,” reports Katie Reilly, author of “Depression on campus” for TIME Magazine’s Special Edition: Mental Health. These numbers, from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, are astounding. They also found that “students seeking help are increasingly likely to have attempted suicide or engaged in self-harm.” Additionally, “nearly 40% of college students said they had felt so depressed within the past 12 months that it was difficult for them to function, and 61% of students said they had ‘felt overwhelming anxiety’ in the same period, according to the American College Health Association.”
What Are Colleges Doing?
In response to the overwhelming feelings that college students are having, colleges have tried to keep up. “To prevent students from burning out and dropping out, colleges across the country — where health centers might once have left meaningful care to outside providers — are experimenting with new measures.” These measures, unfortunately, are often not enough. Some schools are offering screenings for depression; however, once they have been diagnosed, there are often not enough treating professionals for the students at the school. “According to a 2016 survey of counseling-center directors, the average university has one professional counselor for every 1,737 students — fewer than the minimum of one for every 1,000 to 1,500 students recommended by the International Association of Counseling Services.” Colleges are attempting to meet the growing demand for services, but they are falling short.
This is where Arbor Behavioral Healthcare comes in. We can help you with what you are dealing with. Give us a call at 844-413-2690. Our trained and experienced staff can’t wait to speak with you and get you the help you need today. Call now. We can’t wait to speak with you!