While the mental and emotional health of students has long been a concern on college campuses, the past few years have seen a rise in the availability of resources for students with such issues. With the implementation of counseling and mental health programs around the country, there has been increased awareness of mental health issues as a reality in many people's lives.
Marilyn Downs, director of outreach for Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS), says that mental health encompasses a person's emotional, social and personal well-being. According to Downs, "doing well" hinges in part on how people "feel about themselves, engage in the activities in their lives and relate to other people."
In a recent program, National Public Radio (NPR) addressed the rise of mental health problems in colleges and the importance of prioritizing these services. Topics of discussion included the results of the Healthy Minds Study and other surveys of college mental health. Such studies have found that there has been a general increase in the number and the severity of cases of students with mental health problems in colleges and universities.
The Healthy Minds Study is an annual survey that examines mental health issues among college students. Tufts was a participant in 2007 and will participate again in 2010.
While the factors that can explain this increase are not clearly defined, Daniel Eisenberg, assistant professor at the University of Michigan and director of the Healthy Minds Study, claims that due to higher quality treatment prior to college, many students with mental health conditions are able to pursue higher education.
Downs agreed, explaining that advances in mental health treatment make it possible for those with a history of mental health conditions to attend college. "A generation ago, some of these people might not have come to school," she said.
Downs also believes that the sheer number of people attending college today contributes to the increase in demand for mental health services. She explained that the rise in demand for mental health services may simply be due to the fact that more young people than ever are actually in college.
Tufts stands among the many universities that has prioritized mental health services as an essential part of the community. The Counseling and Mental Health Service is free for all undergraduate and graduate students who have paid the student health fee.
According to Downs, students come for a wide range of reasons. "They come for developmental or typical human problems such as relationship concerns, family difficulties, academic concerns, cultural adjustment, coming out and sexuality questions, or feeling stressed, to name a few," she said. "CMHS also sees students who are experiencing problems such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-injury or domestic violence. It all depends on the student's needs."
Compared to other colleges, Tufts makes high use of its mental health services. Approximately one out of five students use CMHS every year for a variety of reasons.
While the counseling service generally provides time-limited services, there is no established number of sessions a student can have. In some cases, students may be referred to a professional off campus if necessary.
As it may be an untapped resource for many students, CMHS attempts to make it as easy as possible to make an appointment. When students call for an appointment, they need only provide their name and I.D. number. CMHS also offers a 24-hour emergency hotline, ensuring students that even in the middle of the night or on the weekend, mental health counselors will be available to talk.
CHMS is also equipped with skilled clinicians who have experience working with college students. "Talking is often more helpful than people might think," Downs said. "What we would hope that people gain from counseling is the opportunity to address the things that are troubling them … barriers to living their lives in a way that is satisfying. Our job is to try to understand why the student is having difficulties from his or her own perspective, not to assume something that does not fit."
Downs added that students should recognize that going to counseling is voluntary. A person will never be forced into counseling or help, but she explained that in certain cases a person might be encouraged by those who are concerned. "Health [Service], a friend, a parent, the dean's office, among others, might encourage someone to come," Downs said.
Some students may be deterred from using CMHS based on common misconceptions about mental health services — an attitude that Downs discourages. "People may worry that there is more stigma about this than there actually is," Downs explained. "Tufts students are quite accepting of the idea of counseling, and they actually hold positive ideas about it."
"Deciding to pursue counseling doesn't need to entail an enormous problem," she continued. "Many students find that talking with a counselor who is trained within their craft can be surprisingly helpful."
