Transcript Are We More Mentally Ill Than We Were 10 Years Ago!? (PPT)

Are We More Mentally
Ill Than We Were 10
Years Ago!?
UNIVERSITY COUNSELING SERVICES
University of Iowa
Barry A. Schreier, Ph.D., Director
Student Mental
Health Severity
Some National #’s
Source: 2015 online survey of college students in their second term conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of The Jed Foundation, The
Jordan Matthew Porco Foundation, and The Partnership for Drug Free Kids.
And There’s More. . . . .
Mental Health Issues Are Prevalent on Campuses.
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One in four students have a diagnosable mental illness. More than 25% have been diagnosed or treated for a mental
health condition within the past year.
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11% of college students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year with 10% diagnosed or treated for
depression.
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40% of students have felt more than average stress in the past 12 months.
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80% of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do and 45% felt hopeless.
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73% of students living with a mental health condition experienced a mental health crisis on campus while 34%
reported their college did not know of their crisis.
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Colleges reported large increases in enrollment. Counseling centers concurrently observed an increase in the
prevalence and severity of mental health issues experienced by students and an increase in the number of students
taking psychotropic medications.
Mental Health Issues Are a Leading Impediment to Academic Success.
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In an American College Health Association report, students cited depression and anxiety as top impediments to
academic performance.
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64% of students no longer in college are due to mental health related reasons. Depression, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder are the primary diagnoses.
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31% of students have felt so depressed in the past year, it was difficult to function and more than 50% felt
overwhelming anxiety, making it hard to succeed academically.
Suicide is a Real Concern
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7% of college students have “seriously considered suicide” during the past year.
Data From the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) & The American College Health Association (ACHA), 2014
National Suicide Stats
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1000-1200 Students a Year-Epidemic!
2nd Leading Cause of Student Death. First?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
Why These Findings?
So, Then What??
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Research Well-ness In Addition To Ill-ness
 Focus Equally On Mental Health & Mental Hurt
Help Media Represent The Broader Campus Demographic
 Charge Media To Represent Strengths Equally With or Above
Vulnerabilities
Challenge Mental Health Stereotypes That Lead To Bias
 Challenge Awareness With the Latest Research Data (Student
Are Also Incredibly Resilient. Got Grit?)
Bias Hurts But Not Anymore Than Anything Else
 Focus On Empowerment Rather Than On Victimization
Speak Specifically About Campus Communities
 Circumscribe Findings to Avoid Collateral Assumptions
Represent Communities To Make Students Stronger
 Include Attention on Protective Factors and Not Just Risk
Factors