By: Stephanie Blair Photo Editor
It’s not uncommon knowledge that college students are stressed.
What is uncommon knowledge is that 50 percent of college students have been hindered academically by overwhelming anxiety in 2012, and 31 percent felt depressed to the point of dysfunction.
Last week alone, Campus Public Safety (CPS) responded to five mental health crises. Each call was received from different buildings, on different days, at varying times.
While it’s upsetting that students on our campus are struggling at that level in the third week of classes, it’s heartening that these individuals sought help.
In one instance, a “concerned roommate” called in to CPS, which is what is recommended be done in a situation where an individual is in need of help and, in some cases, may be a danger to themselves.
In an email interview, Rebecca Chiles, Director of CPS, said that in the case of a mental health crisis a student should contact the Student Health and Counseling Center on campus or call CPS.
“Officers do have some limited training in dealing with mental health issues,” Chiles said. “And [our officers] always have access to a mental health professional for further assessment if needed.”
If concerned about another student, Chiles advises that you fill out a “Student of Concern” form, which can be found on the WOU CARE Team website and then, once filled out, goes to their offices on campus.
The purpose of the CARE Team, as stated on their website, is “to assess, discuss, and recommend intervention to the appropriate campus departments, divisions or persons in response to significant campus situations and events such as: issues of bias, student death or significant trauma, problematic student situations involving medical or psychological concerns, and campus emergency situations that directly affect the well-being of students and the campus community at large.”
Despite the available resources, 40 percent of students with diagnosable mental health conditions do not seek help.
The main reason for this that students gave when surveyed was concern about the stigma attached to mental illness. However, whether it’s due to a genetically inherited chemical imbalance, a result of a major life change, or even the result of substance abuse, mental illness affects one in four college students.
Free counseling is available for all Western students at the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) on campus. All SHCC service are confidential, and all counselors are state licensed professionals, counseling trainees, and/or graduate-level counseling interns.
CPS can be reached 24-hours a day at 503-838-8481 or, in an emergency, call 503-838-9000.
If you are considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or, for those who struggle with phone conversations, chat online with a NSPL member at suicidepreventionlifeline.org
