The College Campus Mental Health Crisis

With the intense media focus on the rising number of suicides on college campuses, there is a desperate need to understand what can be done to prevent serious emotional and mental health problems among students. The College Campus Mental Health Crisis is very real and something we need to address. In a national survey, more than 50% of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult for them to function during the past academic year.

According to mental health research conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• One in four students have a diagnosable illness
• 40% do not seek help
• 80% feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities
• 50% have become so anxious that they struggled in school

College students today have many sources of stress including identity development, relationships, sexuality, roommate problems, substance abuse, academic pressures, extracurricular demands, employment, parental expectations, and racial and cultural differences that affect self-worth.

While there are a variety of mental health concerns common among students today, this article limits itself to five prevalent issues: depression, anxiety, suicide, eating disorders, and addiction.

Depression

According to a study, depression is the number one reason students drop out of school, and is a gateway issue that, if left untreated, could lead to other symptoms or even suicide. Depression is a common but serious illness that leaves you feeling despondent and helpless, completely detached from the world. It can interfere with your life, making important everyday tasks such as working, studying, sleeping, and eating difficult.

Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain likely caused by a combination of genetics, and biological, psychological, and environmental factors. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), depression is the most common mental health disorder.  Symptoms of depression include (but are not limited to):

• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping more or difficulty sleeping)
• Appetite changes (loss of appetite or overeating)
• Sadness
• Hopelessness
• Feelings of powerlessness
• Seeing a glass “half-empty”
• Trouble concentrating & paying attention
• Difficulty reading and completing work tasks

Click here to read more about Depression Treatment

Anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety disorders may sometimes be mistaken for everyday stress or simply written off as someone worrying too much. Depending on how your body responds to the increased levels of certain chemicals, panic attacks may be mistaken as a physical ailment, such as a heart attack or a tension headache. Symptoms manifest differently in each person, so what is true for you won’t necessarily be true for a friend. Common symptoms for anxiety disorders may include:

• Feelings of stress and apprehension
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Fearfulness
• Sweating and dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle pain and tension
• Headaches
• Frequent upset stomach or diarrhea

Click here to read more about Anxiety Treatment

Suicide

In 2013, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the ADAA. It is now the second leading cause of death in college students in the United States, based on an American College Health Association report.

According to the AADA, common warning signs can appear in a person’s speech, mood, and behavior including:

• Talk about feeling trapped
• Feeling like a burden to others
• Talk as they have no reason to go on
• May discuss suicide
• Variety of moods, including anxiety, irritability, humiliation, rage, and depression
• Loss of interest in activities and objects they enjoyed before
• Giving away possessions they once prized
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Visiting people to tell them goodbye
• Searching online for means of committing suicide
• Sleeping poorly or too often
• Behaving recklessly
• Displaying aggression
• Increasing their use of drugs and alcohol.

REMEMBER: IF YOU FEEL THAT SOMEONE’S LIFE IS IN DANGER, IMMEDIATELY CALL 911. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT ANYONE WHO MAY BE SUICIDAL RECEIVES THE HELP THEY NEED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A MAJORITY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO TAKE THEIR LIVES HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE AND TREATABLE MENTAL ILLNESS.

Services Available at Folsom Lake College

Folsom Lake College, a part of the Los Rios College educational system has many resources geared to help students manage symptoms of mental health and well-being. Several of the pages below may be helpful for students of Folsom Lake College.

Crisis Counseling Resources

Wellness Services with Nursing Support

Eating Disorders

Millions of college students — both women and men alike — develop eating disorders during their college years. The vast majority don’t seek help or don’t realize the extent of their problem.  Eating disorders are extreme behaviors, emotions, and attitudes that revolve around food and weight perceptions. These disorders cause serious mental and physical problems that can result in life-threatening issues when left untreated. According to statistics provided by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD):

• Eating disorders are extremely common among all ages and genders — at least 30,000,000 people in the United States suffer from some type of eating disorder
• Of all mental disorders, individuals suffering from eating disorders have the highest mortality rate
• One person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder every 62 minutes

Males are nearly as likely to develop a disorder as women. Due to cultural views of eating disorders, however, they don’t often seek treatment — bulimia and anorexia are seen as women’s issues.

The signs and symptoms of eating disorders vary by person and condition and many depend on the mental state of the individual suffering from the disorder. However, there are several red flags that are common factors for anorexia, bulimia, and binging. These include:

• Distorted or poor body image
• Excessive exercise
• Irregular heartbeats
• Dehydration
• Feeling like eating is out of control
• Fear of eating in public
• Constantly making excuses for eating habits

Many college students do not seek treatment for their eating disorder, nor do they believe they’ve developed a problem. Eating disorders are potentially life threatening and can contribute to serious health issues if not treated properly, including:

• Kidney failure
• Stunted growth
• Loss of menstruation
• Failure in the reproductive system
• Heart problems

Addiction

Alcohol and drug use has become commonplace on many college campuses throughout the U.S. For some students, what starts as a social tradition can become a full-fledged addiction. An addiction is defined as a dependency and repeated abuse of a substance such as drugs or alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that:

• About 25% of students who regularly drink report academic problems tied to their drinking habits
• Nearly 60% of college students have consumed alcohol in the past month, and nearly two out of three of those students engaged in binge drinking during the same period
• Almost 20% of college students meet Alcohol Use Disorder criteria

The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 21.3% of young adults between 18 and 25 used illicit drugs. Of that same age group, 3.8% admitted to using psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes.

Symptoms include:

• Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, or impaired coordination
• Fear, anxiety, or paranoia for no apparent reason
• Prone to suspicious behaviors, frequently get into fights or trouble with the law
• A sudden need for money or financial crisis
• Built tolerance for alcohol and drug use; user needs to use more of the substance to obtain the same effects
• Deterioration of physical appearance, such as weight loss or gain, and change in personal grooming habits
• A sudden change in friends, activities, or hobbies

Left untreated, these issues can become debilitating and even life-threatening. If you feel that you may be experiencing these issues or find yourself concerned for a friend or peer, it is important to take action now.  If you think treatment may be necessary, contact a medical professional immediately.

And don’t forget: you’re not alone. Mental illness is very common among college students today.

Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number (1-800-273-8255)

Call and make an appointment with a therapist

Student Health Center or Counseling Center

For additional information or to make an appointment or schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation please contact staff at Lions Heart Counseling.

Get Started Today!
Call us at (844) 546-6788
to schedule a free 20 minute consultation

Information provided on this site does not constitute a patient therapist relationship, and should be used under the guidance of a licensed mental health professional. Information presented on this page was written by Wendy Lewis, Social Worker and  LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and past Counselor at Lions Heart Counseling Sacramento.

Information presented on this page was written Wendy Lewis, Social Worker and  LCSW and found on  Bestcolleges.com in an article College of the Overwhelmed: The Campus Mental Health Crisis and What We Must Do About It by Richard Kadison & Theresa Foy DiGeronimo