Some Americans are living in fear a second Great Depression, but many college students are already facing a personal depression.
In 2007 the American College Health Association reported that depression rates had doubled since 1992. College students are struggling with depression and other mental health issues more than any other age group and the severity of those illnesses is also on the rise.
The substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 18.6 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have serious psychological problems, compared to 11.3 percent of all adults.
The Archives of General Psychiatry published a study on the mental health of college students in December 2008, which found that nearly half of all college students had dealt with a psychiatric disorder in the last 12 months, and fewer than 25 percent of those with a disorder sought treatment.
"Sometimes depression gets missed, particularly in younger people, because it can be more sustained irritability than sadness," Sarah Kirk, KU Psychological Clinic Director, said. They're "not taking pleasure in activities they used to take pleasure in. So, for example, you go out, but you really don't have a very good time, not enjoying yourself with friends."
Tucker Allred, Salina sophomore, began feeling depressed during the fall of his freshman year at the University of Kansas. A broken heart and harder classes were the biggest factors in Allred's bad mood. He and his high school girlfriend broke up shortly before he left for college. The decision was mutual but he wasn't ready to move on, he said. He also found it hard to leave his home behind. His friends noticed the change in him and tried to help.
"The first goal of
a friend is to offer social support," Kirk said. "Put yourself in that person's shoes. Get them out and do something."
Dr. Sarah Kirk of the KU Psychological Clinic explains how you can help a friend struggling with mental illness.
But don't "poke and prod them, it takes the person time on their own to learn they want to seek help," Allred said.
As his depression progressed, Allred lost his appetite, which caused noticeable weight loss, and he began to have trouble sleeping. He would often wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to go back to sleep, which made getting through the day even more of a struggle. He found himself in a cycle of anxiety and depression, he said. It interfered with sleep and schoolwork, and then the anxiety of not doing well and being tired only made him sleep even less and perform worse.
"In anxiety we see a lot of avoidance," Kirk said. "So if they're really nervous and anxious about a speech they may be giving in class, they try to avoid anything associated with that and then some people will try to avoid that speech all together."
Mental illness can make it difficult for students to do their work well and on time. In these cases students can seek help from Disability Resources, which makes special accommodations for a variety of disabilities. Students must get documentation from a licensed professional stating their psychological difficulty and how it affects their work. Then Disability Resources staff will work with the student and his professors to help the student succeed.
Allred eventually decided to speak to his father about his mood and its affects on his life. His father faced depression and anxiety during his time in medical school and has struggled with mental health problems since that time.
Some people have a genetic predisposition to suffer from mental illness, Kirk said. Others simply have different resources and coping skills that don't allow them to face difficult situations as well as their peers. Some people also have personalities that make them prone to anxiety and other disorders. Counseling can be helpful for all of these causes of mental illness, Kirk said.
The University offers several treatment options. Doctors at Watkins Health Center can prescribe medication for a wide range of psychological conditions. The University's Counseling and Psychological Services and the Psychology Department's KU Psychological Clinic offer counseling for students at affordable prices. Sessions cost students $15 at CAPS and $10 at the KU Psych Clinic.
At both clinics students may have to wait a few weeks to a month for treatment, especially during the middle of the semester, which is the busiest time according to administrators. But CAPS Outreach Coordinator John Wade said immediate help is available for crisis situations.
CAPS always sees as many patients as possible, but last year was the first time the clinic was able to hire an additional staff member. The clinic saw 7,000 students last school year and the numbers appear to be up for this year, Pamela Botts, CAPS Associate Director, said. The KU Psych Clinic is unable to see more than about 100 students, but it has seen an increase in need over the last decade, Kirk said.
Most of those students suffered from anxiety or depression. Younger students especially struggle with adjusting to their new environment with different demands, relationship changes, and economic worries, Kirk said. Administrators at both facilities said they had noticed an increase in students seeking help, which supports national trends, but were unsure about the reason for the change.
"One of the theories I've heard is that with the increased use of meds, there are some students who without meds wouldn't be able to be at college, and they still have psychological needs, " Wade said.
Tucker Allred's father takes anti-depressants to treat his symptoms and suggested that Tucker try the same solution. Tucker also began seeing a counselor at Watkins Health Center. Simply being able to talk though the problem was helpful, he said.
Though mental illnesses are more commonly known and treated than 10 years ago, Kirk said she still hears students say that they are bothered by the stigma surrounding mental illness and treatment.
Emily Simpson, Olathe junior, is trying to change that with the Student Alliance on Mental Health that she founded in 2008.
"It was my first semester back in school after taking time off due to the effects of being in an abusive relationship as well as my own mental health issues, and I wanted to get involved somehow," Simpson said. "In my own efforts of self-empowerment, I found an organization for battered women and children at which I could volunteer. But I was disappointed to see that there wasn't a student organization that represented the mental health community."
Allred also said that he has witnessed a stigma surrounding mental illness. He never felt ashamed about having the disorder, he said, but he does have negative feelings about being on anti-depressants.
"Some people, and myself, don't feel the greatest that they have to take a pill that helps them maintain their mood," Allred said. "But it's a disorder in your brain. It's not something you can really control."
And anti-depressants have allowed Allred to return to his usual self and succeed in his academic pursuits. He plans to continue taking his medication in order to avoid relapsing.
"While you're going through it, it seems horrible," Allred said, "but after, you can actually discuss it pretty comfortably and laugh about it."
The average person only needs two to four sessions to learn how to work through his mental health issues, Kirk said.
Experts
agree that seeking help is important for recovery, and for avoiding more severe
psychological problems. In fact,
Kirk said that the average person only needs two to four sessions to learn the
necessary keys to improve his mental health.
