Growing mental health struggles among college students should raise alarm bells

Mental health has been a growing issue in many parts of our communities. Covid-19 has only  exacerbated the growing mental health epidemic. Now more than ever college students are facing uncertainties that have left many struggling.  According to survey data by Healthy Minds Network and the American College Health Association students have reported lower levels of psychological well being. Before the pandemic the rates of depression, anxiety and serious thoughts of suicide had doubled among college students, according to Daniel Eisenberg, a professor at U.C.L.A. and a principal investigator of the Healthy Minds Study, an annual survey of thousands of students across the country.

Colleges students across North Carolina have experienced a drastic increase in mental health issues since the beginning of the pandemic and universities across NC  have made commitments to students to help them cope and increase wellbeing. Unfortunately,  that promise is not being met.  In the fall of 2021, during the first two months of classes,  four students  at UNC Chapel hill died by suicide. 

At UNC Charlotte there has been criticism of the Counseling of Psychological Services (CAPS) effectiveness by multiple students on campus. Many are unaware of their resources, others unable or unwilling to reach out to CAPS for help due to lack of relationship or unfamiliarity with the program. 

Students who were already utilizing CAPS, suffered from cuts to the amount of free counseling sessions － from twelve to six － and the amount of time therapists have allotted per each student.  This limited amount of time does not inspire any student to build a relationship with the therapist in order to divulge any sort of information. 

The rising percentages of mental health issues among college students, should call for a strategic effort by CAPS at Charlotte to better communicate their services and make it a sustainable resource in  students' lives. In the meantime most students will and haved learned to cope with their mental health struggles and learning to navigate this world and building resilience along the way. Though it should ring alarms just how prevalent this has become among college students and the school administration should take notice.