Statistics
From August to November 2011, the NAMI surveyed 765 people diagnosed with a mental health condition who are currently enrolled in college:
- The vast majority, 71 percent, attended public or private four-year colleges.
- 9 percent attended community colleges (the others were online, trade or technical and specialty colleges).
- 82 percent of respondents were white and the same percentage were female (women are much more likely than men to seek counseling on campus).
- More than 60 percent were between the ages of 18 and 27 (with 37 percent in the traditional college ages of 18-22).
- Nearly 8 in 10 identified as straight (inside higher education, 2012).
Mental Health Illness in College Students
What is Mental Health Illness? Mental health illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life (NAMI, 2013).
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan (NAMI, 2013).
College Students: Each year approximately 4 million students enroll in college for the first time. Most students are on their own for the first time. With this freedom comes added pressure and anxieties. Such as trying to belong in a new setting, keeping up with school work, all night study sessions, caffeine consumptions and roommate (SAMSHA, 2012).
List of Common Mental Health Illnesses for College Students
1. Depression
2. Suicide
3. Anxiety
4. Eating Disorders
5. Self Harm
6. Substance Abuse
7. Sleep deprivation and Insomnia
8. ADHD
Depression
Signs and Symptoms
Causes of depression
Treatment
Suicide
Signs
Causes of Suicide
Treatment
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing. Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan (NAMI, 2013).
College Students: Each year approximately 4 million students enroll in college for the first time. Most students are on their own for the first time. With this freedom comes added pressure and anxieties. Such as trying to belong in a new setting, keeping up with school work, all night study sessions, caffeine consumptions and roommate (SAMSHA, 2012).
List of Common Mental Health Illnesses for College Students
1. Depression
2. Suicide
3. Anxiety
4. Eating Disorders
5. Self Harm
6. Substance Abuse
7. Sleep deprivation and Insomnia
8. ADHD
Depression
- Clinical depression is a medical disorder that causes severe changes in mood, sleep and thinking.
Signs and Symptoms
- Feeling sad or anxious
- Lost of interest in activities you like
- Thoughts of death/suicide
- Overall decrease in energy
- Becoming emotional or upset for no reason.
Causes of depression
- Family history (if someone in family has had depression then you could develop it also.
- Stress and environmental factors (College, family, social and financial)
- Age (common between 15 and 24)
- Gender (70 percent more in women than men)
- Marital Status (single individuals are more likely to become depressed)
Treatment
- Meet with a health professional after identifying illness
- Talk to on campus counseling services
- Community service agencies
- Treatment usually consists of psychotherapy treatment and antidepressant medications
Suicide
- The process of someone ending their life
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students (NAMI, 2012).
Signs
- Violent actions and reactions towards others
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Drug and alcohol use, unusual neglect of personal appearance
- To demonstrate rebellious behavior or running away
Causes of Suicide
- There are numerous of causes, but mainly from results of feeling like you cannot cope when you are faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation.
Treatment
- Admit to a psychiatric hospital
- Mental health professional implementing a treatment plan for outpatient services
- Use Continuous treatment for short and long term risk
Sources
Colleges don't always help with mental health issues, student survey shows | Inside Higher Ed. (n.d.). Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Career Advice, Events and Jobs. Retrieved from http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/30/colleges-dont-always-help-mental-health-issues-student-survey-shows#ixzz2MqqdIl6z
Facts About Common Mental Illnesses. (n.d.). SAMHSA's ADS Center. Retrieved from http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/thefacts.aspx#anxiety
NAMI | Mental Health Conditions in College Students. (n.d.). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and Advocacy. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/NAMI_on_Campus1/Mental_Illness_
Fact_Sheets/Mental_Health_Conditions_in_College_Students.htm
Suicide Symptoms, Causes, Treatment What is the treatment for suicidal thoughts and behaviors? on MedicineNet. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/suicide/page5.htm#what_is_the_treatment_for_suicidal_thoughts_
and_behaviors
Written by: William Key
Facts About Common Mental Illnesses. (n.d.). SAMHSA's ADS Center. Retrieved from http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/thefacts.aspx#anxiety
NAMI | Mental Health Conditions in College Students. (n.d.). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and Advocacy. Retrieved from http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Find_Support/NAMI_on_Campus1/Mental_Illness_
Fact_Sheets/Mental_Health_Conditions_in_College_Students.htm
Suicide Symptoms, Causes, Treatment What is the treatment for suicidal thoughts and behaviors? on MedicineNet. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/suicide/page5.htm#what_is_the_treatment_for_suicidal_thoughts_
and_behaviors
Written by: William Key