College campuses have always been a place of sleepless nights and intense deadlines but within the last decade another issue has surfaced: students coping with mental illnesses.
For 28-year-old University of Delaware alumnus Mikala Jamison, who said she faced anxiety when she got to college, the rising numbers are a sign of more people getting diagnosed and treatment.
“I don’t even know if I would say that more people have more issues,” Jamison said. “I think we’re just talking about it more or people are using services more or being diagnosed as having more mental health issues now. I think it’s more of a diagnosis thing rather than more people have it.”
Jamison opened up about her views on mental health as she spent her Friday morning break at the Tenleytown Panera, sipping on her coffee before she was due back at work. At Jamison’s job, she works with students who are heading off to college.
When she was in college, Jamison struggled with anxiety and was able to use the mental health facilities at her school. She’s well aware, however, that many students years ago weren’t encouraged to use those facilities because mental health issues were stigmatized or not taken as seriously.
According to a 2006 article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, colleges have noticed an increase in students with mental illnesses—the most prevalent of which being depression. However, other research shows that students may not be seeking services.
Although health services are provided on college campuses, as many as 84 percent of students with depression or anxiety don’t receive these services, according to a 2011 article in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Even if college students don’t feel comfortable with in-school counseling, there are many other places to turn.
Out-of-school organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness and Active Minds solely focus on helping people with mental health issues and raising awareness for the importance of mental health treatment.
Advocacy for mental health awareness has gained so much support within the past few years that the first week of October is even devoted to mental health, being known as Mental Illness Awareness Week.
The most important goal for these organizations and events is to provide help for people with mental health issues and ultimately to let them know that they’re not alone.
“If you’re struggling with something, talk to someone, go to therapy, speak to somebody about what you’re going through because we see college students commit suicide on campuses because they don’t know where to turn,” Jamison said. “I think it’s an awareness thing, raising awareness that if you need help, we have help to offer you.”