A generation adrift; a nation in denial

Late last month, the Chronicle of Higher Education featured an article titled "An Epidemic of Anguish," in which the author describes the skyrocketing rates of student mental illness on campuses. Although this is now garnering national attention, it is not a brand new problem — those of us working in academia have heard the urgent calls for more resources and more assistance coming from student health offices and counseling centers for at least a decade.

The Chronicle references the National Survey of College Counseling Centers. According to that report, 86 percent of counselors report an increase of students arriving on campus already on psychiatric medication. 94 percent report larger numbers of students with a history of anxiety issues, depression and self-injury ("cutting") before they ever get to college. 52 percent of college counseling center clients have "severe psychological problems" — an increase of almost 10 percent in just two years! Tragically, 86 percent of the individuals who committed suicide never sought any help at all.