Suicide rates have risen nationally and in Washington over the past 20 years.1 In fact, approximately 8,000 higher education students in Washington attempted suicide in 2018-19.2 This alarming figure shows a definite need for mental health awareness among the student. The percentage of students with mental health needs that receive professional support is low.3 Mental health issues can lead to poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities, and increased risk of suicide.
We encourage students and wellness/counseling centers to take steps to raise mental health awareness on their campus and motivate students to seek help for mental health issues. This will improve and save numerous lives and positively impact academic success.
A significant number of distressed students do not seek help from mental health providers or other supportive adults.4 Multiple studies have shown that students will first seek help from friends, family, or a significant other, much more often than first seeking professional help. Students often get health-related information from their friends, although friends have not been seen as a believable source of health information by most.5
Many campuses are engaging in strategies to increase the likelihood that a student who needs supportive services or counseling will seek out and secure assistance. Creating mental health messaging campaigns for your campus that is tailored to your students’ needs can steer them in the right direction. Providing on-time care is critical for students’ wellbeing because delayed treatment of mental issues typically results in more severe conditions, which may require more extensive treatment.6
Recent findings suggest that the relationship of stigma to help-seeking in college students is also complex. While half of college students would encourage a friend to seek help for emotional issues, fewer than one-fourth would seek help themselves.5,7 Students may feel that asking questions about mental health will receive negative reactions. Also, many students believe their mental health experiences in college are “normal” and do not feel inclined to seek help.8,9
Strategic and educational mental health campaigns attempt to increase knowledge and acceptance of mental health concerns.8 Many campuses are using communication campaigns that include brochures, posters, and a variety of web-based content to address specific facilitators and barriers to help seeking.
The mental health messaging campaign stems from the statewide higher education initiative (SB 6514) now under implementation by Forefront Suicide Prevention.
- Hedegaard H, Curtin SC, Warner M. Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999-2017. NCHS Data Brief. 2018;(330):1-8.
- American College Health Association. American College Health Association National College Health Assessmen.; 2019. www.acha-ncha.org. Accessed May 14, 2020.
- Edwards J. American College Counseling Association: Survey of Community/Two Year College Counseling Services.; 2015. http://www.collegecounseling.org/resources/Documents/ACCA-Community-College-Survey-2014-15-Final.pdf. Accessed May 14, 2020.
- Drum DJ, Brownson C, Denmark AB, Smith SE. New Data on the Nature of Suicidal Crises in College Students: Shifting the Paradigm. 2009. doi:10.1037/a0014465.supp
- The Jed Foundation. A Guide to Campus Mental Health Action Planning.; 2011. www.jedfoundation.com/professionals/programs-and-. Accessed May 14, 2020.
- Kersting K. Study Indicates Mental Illness Toll on Youth, Delays in Treatment. Am Psychol Assoc. 2005;36(8):15. https://www.apa.org/monitor/sep05/treatment. Accessed May 14, 2020.
- The Jed Foundation, mtvU. College Mental Health Study: Stress, Depression, Stigma & Students.; 2006.
- Champlin S, Nisbett G. Promoting Mental Health Resource Use on Campus by “Trying Something New.” Am J Heal Promot. 2018;32(4):1140-1144. doi:10.1177/0890117117740348
