Managing the Scope and Reality of Mental Health Issues on College Campuses Presented to the KCPDC Professional Development Conference May 24, 2017 Robyn Long, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology Baker University

The Scope of Mental Illness 26% of U.S. adults—ages 18 and older—or 1 in 4—live with a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year; Almost 1/3 of all college students report having felt so depressed that they have had trouble functioning; Mental health issues in the college population are associated with lower GPA and higher probability of dropping out of college, and, Compared to older adults, the 18-24 age group shows the lowest rate of help-seeking.

The Scope of Mental Illness, continued 75% of mental health disorders emerge between the ages of 14 and 24; Presentations to campus counseling centers are up by 26% in the past five years and 88% in the past ten years; Incoming students without mental health diagnoses are particularly vulnerable, too, as they make the transitions to college.

The Scope of Mental Illness, continued For students who do ask for help, the majority will first ask a friend; 67% of college students will tell a friend that they are feeling suicidal before they’ll tell anyone else, and 80-90% of students who die by suicide are not seeking services at a college counseling center, and yet: Many of us feel increased responsibility to respond to our students while feeling both ill-equipped and overwhelmed by these mental health demands.

The Most Commonly Reported Mental Health Diagnoses in College Students Mood disorders, including depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder; Anxiety Disorders, including rape trauma and PTSD; Learning Disabilities; ADHD; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Eating Disorders, and Substance Abuse Issues

Mood Disorders Lifetime prevalence is 19%, or roughly 1 in 5 for depression; 3% with bipolar disorder, and 6% with dysthymia Symptoms include anhedonia, significant weight loss or weight gain; insomnia or hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation or retardation; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; reduced ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide; bipolar disorder also includes mania

Anxiety Disorders Lifetime prevalence is 29%; most common mental health disorders; includes generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorders, PTSD and OCD. Symptoms can include free-floating anxiety; behavioral changes; restlessness and muscle tension; insomnia; avoidance; panic attacks; recurrent obsessions and compulsions; dreams, flashbacks and re-experiencing; hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response

Learning Disorders & ADHD Lifetime prevalence is roughly 10% for LD and 5% for ADHD; Symptoms vary with particular diagnosis, but 50% will have comorbid disorders; the good news is the “rise” may be due to advances that allow students with LD to attend college; students with LD can make great demands on university faculty and staff; hyperactivity and impulsivity are significant behavioral issues amongst college students with ADHD

Autism Spectrum Disorders 1 in 68 children; far more common in boys than girls, but on the rise for both sexes; Symptoms include persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, including social-emotional reciprocity and nonverbal communication; restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, including excessive adherence to routines or excessive resistance to change

Eating Disorders Lifetime prevalence is 1-4% for Anorexia Nervosa; 5% for Bulimia Nervosa, and 2-7% for Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms vary by disorder, but fear and disturbed body perceptions, negative self-concept, and a host of medical issues

Substance Abuse Disorders Lifetime prevalence varies by substance abused; 30% of college students meet the criteria for alcohol abuse; 9% overall. Legal issues, increased sexual assault, accidents, and medical issues can all result from substance abuse disorders.

Vignettes and Discussion* Troy Trent Tanya Tiffany

Reasons to Remain Hopeful Reductions in stigma; Innovative awareness programs; These students are OVERCOMING their diagnoses to be at college in the first place; Simple changes, like sleep hygiene, can make a BIG difference Relationally-oriented faculty and staff can make a tremendous difference.

References and Resources Comer, R.J. (2014). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, 7th Edition. Worth Publishers. http://www.activeminds.org/issues-a-resources/the-issue http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/070813p26.shtml https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201402/the-college-student-mental-health-crisis