
What do you do when your college's mental health center can't keep up with the number of students seeking help? One in three college freshman in eight countries experience symptoms "consistent with a diagnosable mental health disorder," according to research published in 2018 by the American Psychological Association (opens in new tab), and one in five college students surveyed in a 2018 Harvard Medical School (opens in new tab) study contemplated suicide in the last year.
But many mental health centers on campuses across the country are "overtaxed, understaffed, and underprepared," to handle that high volume, according to Thrive Global (opens in new tab), Arianna Huffington's startup dedicated to "behavior change" to lower stress and enhance well-being.
In a new series addressing the mental health crisis, Thrive (opens in new tab) claims top student-complaints about their campus mental health centers include long wait times for "initial and follow-up appointments (up to 5 weeks in some cases), a short-term model of service that can’t accommodate those with more serious, ongoing mental health issues, caps on the number of therapy sessions students are allotted (anywhere from 6 to 12), and forced medical leave for students with more severe mental illnesses."
Schools are taking action to address these problems, like "expanding or eliminating caps on sessions, extending hours of operation, hiring case managers to help students navigate things like insurance and making appointments with off-site therapists, employing more clinicians...and providing alternative forms of counseling like group therapy," according to Thrive (opens in new tab). Many schools have also designed emergency response directives to help guide faculty, staff, RAs, peer counselors, and fellow students assist students in crisis.
At UCLA (opens in new tab), the Mindwell Program (opens in new tab) pushes campaigns to educate students about the importance of getting eight hours of sleep and providing “nap maps,” to show students where they can catch a nap on campus.
As @KimFulcher writes, feeling passionate and purposeful in life doesn't just happen -- we can make it happen. https://t.co/dsahaxfeUbOctober 9, 2018
Those solutions are all great, but there's still a lot to do. Ben Locke, Ph.D., senior director at Penn State’s Counseling & Psychological Services (opens in new tab)(CAPS), told Thrive (opens in new tab) that “huge and increasing demand for services” can no longer be ignored. He said, “The lack of planning ahead for growing service capacity is producing a supply and demand problem.”
Apps are stepping up to fill the gaps, as well. Buddy Project (opens in new tab) is one example—it's a socially-driven digital support community that pairs teens and young adults with a buddy to meet needs in real time.
“All of these efforts are part of a larger solution,” Locke adds. "The first step is recognizing that we spent 15 years trying to convince college students to utilize mental health resources, and now we have to live up to our side of the bargain.”
If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can read Thrive's report into the surprising reasons behind the student mental health crisis here.
RELATED STORIES
Rose is a Staff Writer at ELLE covering culture, news, and women's issues. She is an accomplished and compassionate storyteller who excels in obtaining exclusive interviews and unearthing compelling features.
-
Royal Family Would “Collapse” Without Catherine, Princess of Wales, As the “Future Rests on Her”
No pressure!
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Paris Hilton Calls Princess Diana Her Idol, Says She’s Rooting for Prince Harry
Hilton and Harry both released memoirs this year.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Apparently Making Major Demands in Order to Confirm Their Attendance at the Coronation
“It could lead to chaos.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
By Kelly Burch
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
By Emily Shiffer
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe