By Grace Arenas
Elm Staff Writer
A recent New York Times article reported a growing trend in the need across college campuses for counseling services. In fact, “national surveys show that nearly half of the students who visit counseling centers are coping with serious mental illness, more than double the rate a decade ago. More students take psychiatric medication, and there are more emergencies requiring immediate action.”
With the stress and anxiety of classes, sometimes on top of more serious disorders, how do Washington College students cope?
According to Bonnie Fisher, director of Counseling Services, 15 percent of WC students utilize counseling services over the course of the academic year. This percentage, she estimates, has gone up from 10 percent over the course of the last three or four years. Despite the increase, WC’s mental health “status” is not cause for concern.
“I think what happens is some students come into college with the expectation that they’ll continue with counseling that they began in high school,” said Fisher.
The numbers can be attributed to a number of other causes, as well. Busiest times for counseling services tend to be around the beginning and middle of semesters; according to Fisher, students with New Year’s resolutions come to have a successful semester. Others come in for study tips or to ease midterm stress.
“[Midterm grades] may have been the first indication that things weren’t going as well as they’d hoped,” said Fisher.
According to the article, many universities are overwhelmed by the increase in numbers, and economic cutbacks have made it difficult for them to keep up. Compared to larger universities, WC is well equipped to deal with students’ counseling needs.
“Our resources are more accessible,” said Fisher, noting that appointments are typically made same-day or next-day for sessions. In other colleges, students may be wait-listed or limited in the number of sessions they can receive.
Although counseling services no longer have a presentation for students at freshmen orientation, the center does work closely with peer mentors and RAs to ensure the word gets out. Another proactive measure it takes begins before students are even on campus. If on their health forms students have indicated they have received counseling in the past, they are contacted before the academic year begins. Events on campus, such as counseling services’ participation in National Depression Screening Day, are intended to raise the student body’s awareness.
Counseling services also encourages students to find calming outlets to deal with the demands of classwork and clubs on a day-to-day basis. Although schedules are busy, Fisher recommends practicing patterns that work for each individual student.
“The important thing is to develop a skill to deal with stress so that when you reach that threshold, you have something you can use to cope,” Fisher said. “Don’t leave things to the last minute.”