Since the Virginia Tech tragedy there have been a handful of reports and initiatives on college mental health. Most of the reports cite ways that campuses can improve safety and mental health among students. A recent report by the Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services highlighted similar issues, but surprisingly stopped short of requesting increased funding.
As someone who works in a university counseling center, I think that increased funding for staff positions and outreach projects could significantly improve the overall health of students, and could be a protective factor not only in preventing tragedies like those at Virgina Tech, but also crises like suicides and relationship violence. I hope that the recent focus on these issues leads to a new understanding of the role of campus mental health centers and the necessity that they are well funded.
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University Update - Virginia Tech - Mental Illness on College Campuses (6/20/2007)
2 Comments to
“Mental Illness on College Campuses”
I whole-heartedly agree Will. I did a stint in a university counseling center (in Miami) and found the only thing lacking wasn’t the talent or enthusiasm for helping students who are sometimes grappling with some pretty serious issues, but the resources to really reach out and help as many as needed help.
Here’s an idea — put the health and mental well being of our young adults and students ahead of the university sports program!
I am a parent of a second year college student who is not the same girl we accompanied to college last August, 2007. She came home for Christmas break last December and met a guy from Hawaii who attends school at Northwestern and it has been a nightmare for her since and for me, her mother. I am beside myself and have reached out to the college for help and am in the process of not only going to get my daughter help but going through the legal challenges to make sure everyone involved is informed and aware of this serious situation.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Jun 2007
