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I would tend to agree with those who say that a student's mental health (or lack thereof) is not the responsibility of the school. Others maintain that colleges have some responsibility in this matter.
The faculty and staff aren't trained mental health professionals (for the most part) nor are they psychic, so I would submit that the weight of this issue falls mainly with the students themselves.
Isn't college a place where legal adults usually go? While it's unfortunate that many mental problems appear in the late teens/early 20's it's really no more a schools responsibility than it is the responsibility of the company you work for or the city you live in. It's great to have the resources for people, but it's an add-on (and adds-on to the cost of tuition) and NOT the primary purpose of college or the primary responsibility of the college. But I'd rather see the communities, including the ones where colleges are located, worry about providing these resources, with tax money they get for this purpose, Getting a mirror system going in colleges to provide all services seems like a waste of resources.
I really don't believe that a "mental issue" just pops up without anyone noticing before you get to college....there are signs, if parents and friends are paying attention! It's not the college's problem, nor is it an employer's problem (although keeping an eye on your students or employees would be the smart thing to do!) to notice a difference in someone's 'normal" mental state!
I really don't believe that a "mental issue" just pops up without anyone noticing before you get to college....there are signs, if parents and friends are paying attention! It's not the college's problem, nor is it an employer's problem (although keeping an eye on your students or employees would be the smart thing to do!) to notice a difference in someone's 'normal" mental state!
I disagree. Often, the changes that come with moving out, starting college etc. can trigger somewhat "hidden" mental problems because of the stress that comes with starting a new stage of your life and basically being on your own.
Isn't college a place where legal adults usually go? While it's unfortunate that many mental problems appear in the late teens/early 20's it's really no more a schools responsibility than it is the responsibility of the company you work for or the city you live in. It's great to have the resources for people, but it's an add-on (and adds-on to the cost of tuition) and NOT the primary purpose of college or the primary responsibility of the college. But I'd rather see the communities, including the ones where colleges are located, worry about providing these resources, with tax money they get for this purpose, Getting a mirror system going in colleges to provide all services seems like a waste of resources.
This sounds like a great idea but a lot of cities only have one college. Also, I don't think it's necessarily fair to have taxpayer money fund this service for transient residents of their towns. And from what I hear, it's not like these college counselors have a lot of down time so idk if resources are really being wasted.
I think one problem is that colleges look to hire mental health counselors with "college specific" experience when they really need more therapists trained in crisis evaluations/situations.
We need more mental health therapists everywhere, not just colleges. We also need to pay them better. At least as much as public school teachers who have similar amount of education and training.
Are kids today more emotionally fragile than years past?
When I was 17, I went from small-town Tennessee to Air Force basic training, never really having been apart from my hometown and family. Admittedly, I was scared, confused, and missing my previous life. But I (and all the others) got through it and went on to our Air Force technical schools and careers. I suppose that's different than college because there's always someone telling you what to do and where to go, so you really don't have to make many decisions on your own.
How is a college not qualified to provide mental health services to students? Hello? Most of them have a psychology department filled with PhD's in psychology. When you're in college, you can go to a student health clinic for all medical needs. So, this service is available, if any student wishes to access it. Actually, colleges tend to be heavy promoters of mental health services on campus. They do all kinds of campaigns to spread the word about mental health, reaching out to others, and getting help for anything at all.
I would tend to agree with those who say that a student's mental health (or lack thereof) is not the responsibility of the school. Others maintain that colleges have some responsibility in this matter.
The faculty and staff aren't trained mental health professionals (for the most part) nor are they psychic, so I would submit that the weight of this issue falls mainly with the students themselves.
The article discussed at some length the fact that the campus mental health care center was overwhelmed and understaffed. In that respect, there is something the college can do. It can allocate more funding to staffing the center. It could also look at the quality of the counseling staff, to make sure that crisis counseling, mental illness, childhood trauma and abuse issues, depression, etc. are all adequately covered as issues staff are qualified to address.
Saying the students' mental health isn't the responsibility of the school is like saying the students' physical health isn't the school's responsibility. Colleges have student health clinics, because students wouldn't otherwise be covered for health care, and mental health care is part of that. Universities aren't legally responsible for students' mental health, but they provide health care services, and can help. Merely going through the motions of providing care when staffing is inadequate isn't acceptable.
Also, dorm staff are supposed to be trained in crisis intervention, including student staff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cliksder;
I disagree. Often, the changes that come with moving out, starting college etc. can trigger somewhat "hidden" mental problems because of the stress that comes with starting a new stage of your life and basically being on your own.
This, plus the fact that some serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, often have a late-adolescent onset. Hormonal changes can play a role, as hormones affect psychology. Parents can be legitimately blind-sided. In other cases, the seeming impersonal nature of life on campus and the difficulty in adjusting and making friends in the first year, can cause depression in students, especially those who have never been away from home before. The article said that depression was one of the more common complaints.
Also, with students living away from their parents and having access to counseling arises the opportunity for some to seek out support and help in dealing with the dysfunctional family environment some were raised in. Addressing those issues is important in preventing or resolving depressive tendencies, and setting the student on the path to achieving their best at the university, and in life.
Lastly, universities do have a serious interest in seeing their students complete their education and graduate. College admissions are only the beginning of a process, not the end. Universities have an interest in retention and graduation of students, as well. Universities carefully keep statistics as to how many students graduate vs. how many drop out, as a poor retention rate can reflect badly on the university. So it behooves universities to do what they can to support their students' mental and physical health.
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