Public universities are stepping up their efforts to provide mental health care, but are struggling to keep pace with demand, according to an AP analysis.
In this Nov. 14, 2019, photo, students walk on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. More college students are turning to their schools for help with anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. That's according to an Associated Press review of more than three dozen public universities.
The Associated Press requested five years of data from the largest public university in each state. A total of 39 provided annual statistics from their counseling clinics or health centers. The remaining 11 said they did not have complete records or had not provided records five months after they were requested.
When Ashtyn Aure checked in at the mental health clinic at Utah Valley last year, she was suffering anxiety attacks and had not slept for days. Her mind kept returning to past traumas. When she asked to see a counselor, a staff member told her the wait list stretched for months. She left without getting help.
“Unfortunately, stories like this are not that uncommon,” said Dr. William Erb, senior director of student health services at Utah Valley. “We train, review and revise these procedures so that situations like this can be avoided as much as possible.” To some students, waiting is just an inconvenience. But it raises the risk that some young people will forgo help entirely, potentially allowing their problems to snowball.
“We quickly realized that there were a lot of people on campus who believed in what we were doing and had had their own experiences,” said Garrett Mogge, a junior who helped organize the effort. “Thirty days can be a long time. And once you get there, it’s too late for some people.” A recent study found greater reductions in anxiety and depression at clinics that focus on providing students counseling at regular intervals, a system that might mean waiting for a therapist’s caseload to open. That practice was compared with clinics that offer quick initial help but cannot always provide routine follow-up treatment.
“That really increased the number of students we were seeing,” said Davidson, the head of student wellness. The school later hired a trauma specialist and added a student mental health fee to hire more counselors, among other measures to reduce wait times. Rising demand has also opened doors for businesses promising solutions. Some schools have signed on with companies that provide therapy over the phone or through video chats. Others urge students to try smartphone apps.
For many schools, finding the money to add counselors is a challenge. Many campus clinics don’t charge students for services and generate little or no revenue. A 2016 bill in Congress proposed new grants for university counseling, but it never advanced to a vote.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
'The Pressures On Kids — They're Born Into It'Over the past 10 years, the rate of anxiety and depression among college-age students has doubled, according to researchers. Psychologists say the pressures driving these problems start long before kids set foot on campus. wgbhnews
Weiterlesen »
Saugus High School teacher comforts students after shooting: ‘We will never forget what happened’'I am so proud of my students,' the Santa Clarita teacher said after the California school shooting.
Weiterlesen »
Chicago college student found dead in campus parking garageA person of interest is in custody after a college student was found dead in her car at a campus parking garage in Chicago, authorities say.
Weiterlesen »
Foul play suspected after college student found dead in parking garage: PoliceCampus police at the University of Illinois at Chicago have taken a person of interest into custody after a 19-year-old student was found unresponsive inside a car.
Weiterlesen »
College student found strangled to death in parking garage: PoliceCampus police at the University of Illinois at Chicago have taken a person of interest into custody after a 19-year-old student was found unresponsive inside a car.
Weiterlesen »
Video showing NYPD officers handcuffing homeless woman sparks outcryA video showing police pinning and handcuffing a homeless woman on Friday prompted responses on social media and from city government and mental health professionals.
Weiterlesen »