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NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
1/10/2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES-The pressure of making good grades while holding down a job, rearing a family or coping with the stresses of today's society have caused a rise in the percentage of college students who seek help for mental and emotional problems. At Northwestern State University, a collaborative team of counselors and health professionals strives to help a growing number of students cope with college life.
Rebecca Boone, director of Counseling and Career Services at NSU, said the number of students who seek help has increased not only because college and today's society in general is more stressful, but also because students are more aware of mental health issues and more likely to seek help for them.
"College today is stressful," Boone said. "I think we are better at diagnosing and treating people today and people's attitudes are changing about mental health."
Counseling services at the university level used to be primarily developmental, helping students adjust to college life. Today they are proactive in screening students for depression, suicide risk, eating disorders and substance abuse.
"The old theory of 'you don't talk about it and it won't happen' has been shattered. Now we're seeing issues like obsessive/compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and depression," Boone said. "We try so hard to retain students. Offering them health services and mental help services gets them get the help they need."
Counseling and Career Services works with in cooperation with Residential Life, Student Affairs and campus Health Services to coordinate outreach, awareness, crisis intervention, therapy and education. They offer group and individual counseling on many issues and find meeting the demand a challenge. The ratio of students to counselors is very high.
"You can see how the university mimics what's happening outside in society," said Leah Lentz, a counselor at NSU.
Sometimes mental health issues are really physical health issues, according to Health Services Director Stephanie Campbell, R.N. Poor diet and lack of sleep can cause depression or feelings of being overwhelmed. Some students are referred to Campbell at the campus Infirmary, who can recommend an exercise program or offer advice on proper sleep habits. Students with more serious mental or emotional disorders may be referred to a psychiatrist.
To achieve crisis prevention, NSU sponsors several awareness campaigns throughout the academic year. Upcoming campaigns include an Eating Disorder Awareness Week Feb. 27-March 5 and Suicide Awareness Week March 28-31, both intended to educate the students about the issues and what recourses are available to help them solve those problems. Screenings, seminars and brochures will be available. Yellow ribbons will be distributed during Suicide Awareness Week and an awareness walk is planned.
"Our goal is to provide prevention, education and resources, advocacy and helping students know what they can do," Lentz said.