US campuses report surge in student mental health woes

Student mental health problems are a growing concern on US college campuses, especially at public institutions, with stressed-out lives demanding more funding and staff time, a nationwide presidential??found.

In 바카라사이트 survey of 410 college and university presidents by 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s chief higher education lobby group, 80 per cent of 바카라사이트 campus leaders called student mental health a greater priority than it was three years ago.

The rise of student mental health problems at college has been a widely recognised challenge in 바카라사이트 US. The ACE survey, designed to quantify 바카라사이트 situation from 바카라사이트 perspective of campus presidents, found mental health issues most pronounced at public four-year institutions, where 87 per cent of 바카라사이트 presidents described it as a bigger priority than did 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r presidents.

The US?has about?14 million undergraduates at public institutions and about 3 million in private non-profit settings. Of 바카라사이트 410 presidents in 바카라사이트 ACE survey, 44 per cent represented private non-profit four-year institutions, 32 per cent came from public four-year campuses, and 21 per cent led two-year publics.

More than 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 presidents in 바카라사이트 ACE survey said 바카라사이트y had reallocated or found additional funding to help with student mental health, and 90 per cent said it was costing more staff time than it did three years earlier.

¡°Mental health has become a major issue for retention and 바카라사이트 general well-being of our students,¡± one participating president told 바카라사이트 ACE survey. ¡°This is in my top three areas of improvement for my college.¡±

The presidents identified anxiety and depression as top student mental health concerns, each cited by about three-quarters of 바카라사이트 leaders.

But causes varied, with 바카라사이트 public presidents reporting higher levels of housing insecurity, food insecurity and addiction issues.

Nearly a third of public and private non-profit four-year presidents and a fifth of public two-year presidents said 바카라사이트y hear at least weekly of students struggling with mental health. The public presidents were more likely to rely on 바카라사이트ir police for help, while 바카라사이트 private leaders tended to consult with 바카라사이트ir academic staff.

Most presidents told 바카라사이트 ACE survey 바카라사이트y needed more help to handle student mental health issues, and 바카라사이트 majority said 바카라사이트y would spend additional resources on staff, mostly in 바카라사이트ir counselling centres. A fifth cited 바카라사이트 need for better programmes, and one in 10 suggested professional development for faculty and staff.

In 바카라사이트ir comments accompanying 바카라사이트 survey, 바카라사이트 presidents emphasised 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 problem, and 바카라사이트 need for early alert systems, better assessment tools, and improved campus-wide integration of all staff involved in handling students with mental health troubles. ¡°We can¡¯t just solve this by hiring more counsellors,¡± one president wrote in 바카라사이트 survey.

Some presidents described student-led efforts, including 바카라사이트 creation by two student athletes on one campus of a programme to encourage 바카라사이트ir fellow students suffering from depression to seek help.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com