Jane experiences an overwhelming sense of anxiety that makes it difficult to complete her schoolwork, attend class, and some days makes it difficult to go about her day-to-day life. She knows she needs help and reaches out to her college counseling center. Since she isn’t considered an “emergency case,” she is told there are no appointments available that day and waits three weeks to see a therapist.
Unfortunately, this is a story that currently happens all too often on college campuses. Thanks to an increased need met with a lack of funding, we are currently facing a mental health crisis on college campuses.
The Facts About Mental Health
- 1 in 5 college students have a mental health condition.
- Nearly 3/4 of mental health conditions arise by age 24.
- Many college students are facing mental health concerns for the first time.
- There are also an increasing number of students entering college with diagnosed mental health conditions, as 3 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 in the U.S. experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year.
- Students seeking help on college campuses for a mental health condition has been on a steady rise.
- The most common mental health conditions on college campuses are anxiety, depression, and an increasing amount of suicidal ideation and self-harm.
- In 2015, 35.3% of college students felt so depressed it was difficult to function, 57.7% felt overwhelming anxiety, and 9.6% seriously considered suicide.
- Colleges are understaffed when it comes to mental health concerns.
- Students with serious symptoms but are not considered in an emergency situation (typically when the student’s or another person’s life is in danger) may wait days or weeks before they see a therapist at their college’s counseling center.
Where Is the Funding?
- Many public universities across the country are experiencing budget cuts, leaving many departments strapped for funding.
- Increases in mental health funding have not kept up with the increasing number of students enrolling in universities and students reaching out for help with a mental health condition.
What You Can Do
- Ask your Senator to support the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, a piece of bi-partisan legislation currently assigned to a congressional committee.
- The act would help ensure college campuses have the funding and support to help their students as well as help educate the broader community about mental health concerns.