College Adjustment for Students with Mental Health Needs
Mental health specialist assert that the onset of mental illness often occurs during early childhood or adolescence, and may be compounded by the stress and anxiety of attending college, leaving home, developing new relationships, and the pressure to succeed. (Liebert, 2003; Gately, 2005)
Many first incidences of mental illness occur in college
The increase in the number of students with mental disorders suggests that early diagnosis and treatment may promote their stability and functioning in college.
Psychological, emotional, social issues (impinging conditions negatively affect students’ academic performance)
Collaborative relationship between faculty, admin, student services is vital for students’ academic well-being
Impact on higher Ed
Reasonable accommodations to students with mental health disorders
Admissions- can they be denied? (Liebert, 2003)
Higher education institutions provide counseling services
To see one university's experience in dealing with student mental health needs click here.
Disciplinary policies
Many first incidences of mental illness occur in college
The increase in the number of students with mental disorders suggests that early diagnosis and treatment may promote their stability and functioning in college.
- This forces colleges and universities to attempt to meet the needs of college students diagnosed with varied mental disorders (Arehart-Triechel, 2002)
Psychological, emotional, social issues (impinging conditions negatively affect students’ academic performance)
Collaborative relationship between faculty, admin, student services is vital for students’ academic well-being
Impact on higher Ed
- Policies (Gately, 2005; Schaeffer, 2006)
- Title II of the 1990 American Disability Act & section 504 of 1973 Rehabilitation act
Reasonable accommodations to students with mental health disorders
- Equal opportunity to partake in all aspects of college life, but should not provide unfair advantage over other students
Admissions- can they be denied? (Liebert, 2003)
Higher education institutions provide counseling services
- To help adjust and cope
- Limited services
- Lack of full time credentialed mental health professionals to provide treatment
To see one university's experience in dealing with student mental health needs click here.
Disciplinary policies
- When they are disruptive
- How should faculty handle it in a classroom?
- Concern: failing a student may result in reprisal or suicide
Sources
Arehart-Treichel, J. (2002, March 15). Mental Illness on rise on college campuses. Psychiatric News, 37 (6) Retrieved from http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/37/6/6
Gately, G. (2005, April 17). Colleges target mental health campus: Groups, courses, online
services help reduce the stigma of treatment. Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/04/17/colleges_target_mental
Libert, D.T. (2003) The mentally ill and access to higher education: A review of trends, implications, and future possibilities for the Americans with disabilities act and the rehabilitation act. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 7
Schaeffer, A. (2006) The dilemma of college students who threaten to kill themselves. Medical Examiner: Health and Medicine Explained, 2006 Washington Post: Newsweek Interactive
Written by: April Williams
Gately, G. (2005, April 17). Colleges target mental health campus: Groups, courses, online
services help reduce the stigma of treatment. Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/04/17/colleges_target_mental
Libert, D.T. (2003) The mentally ill and access to higher education: A review of trends, implications, and future possibilities for the Americans with disabilities act and the rehabilitation act. International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, 7
Schaeffer, A. (2006) The dilemma of college students who threaten to kill themselves. Medical Examiner: Health and Medicine Explained, 2006 Washington Post: Newsweek Interactive
Written by: April Williams