College students across the nation are facing a rising problem–and it isn’t just the cost of tuition.
According to recent statistics, the number of college students being diagnosed and seeking treatment for anxiety and depression has risen dramatically in the past five years.
“Nationwide, 17% of college students were diagnosed with or treated for anxiety problems during the past year, and 13.9% were diagnosed with or treated for depression…That is up from 11.6% for anxiety and 10.7% for depression in the spring 2011 survey.” –American College Health Association, Wall Street Journal
The reason? To start, it is important to understand that many mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder become symptomatic in one’s late teens and early 20s.
But beyond this biological tendency (which aligns perfectly with one’s “college years”), external stressors, such as finances, classes, and moving out, can play large roles in one’s mental health.
“Researchers suspect that people are predisposed to develop [mental illness] from birth or childhood, but don’t exhibit symptoms until they hit a particular phase of development and/or certain stressors,” according to NBC.
With the state of the economy, high cost of tuition, and pressure to get a job after college, it’s no wonder that students are feeling added stress.
Wall Street Journal writer Andrea Petersen adds that other contributors may be social media and “a so-called helicopter-parenting style that doesn’t allow adolescents to experience failure.”
She further quotes Micky M. Sharma, director of Ohio State’s Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service: “The coping, the resiliency is not where we want it to be. That’s a bad combination.”
Learning to Cope
For those who experience anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses, stress and distress can be difficult to overcome. At GenPsych, our mental health programs focus on skill-based therapies that help clients to cope with both internal and external stressors in their life.
Adult Mental Health Services at GenPsych
GenPsych’s Adult Psychiatric Programs are designed to help individuals manage their symptoms and regain control of their lives. Through these comprehensive programs (which include a separate Anxiety/Trauma track), clients can receive the support and education they need in a supporting environment free from judgement.
Our programs include individual, group, and family counseling, as well as medication management. Transportation is available for most New Jersey residents.
Learn more about our Adult Psychiatric Programs here.
For more information or to schedule an assessment, call (855) 436-7792 or click here.
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