College of the Overwhelmed

Parent Cafe
1

<p>College of the Overwhelmed
I highly recommend this book by Richard Kadison, head of Harvard's Mental Health Services.</p>

<p>From the introduction:

[Quote]
This is a book about the extraordinary increase in serious mental illness on college campuses today and what we can do about it. If your son or daughter is in college, the chances are alomost one in two that he or she will become depressed to the point of being unable to function; one in two that he or she will have regular episodes of binge drinking (with the resulting significant risk of dangerous consequences such as sexual assault and car accidents); and one in ten that he or she will seriously consider suicide. In fact, since 1988, the likelihood of a college student's suffering depression has doubled, suicidal ideation has tripled, and sexual assaults have quadrupled. The information on student mental health presented throughout this book is shocking - yet it is the elephant in the room that no one is talking about.</p>

<p>I have written this book for parents, students, and college counselors and administrators to open a dialogue, get us talking, and suggest ways we all can face these facts and do something about them.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>He examines the different stresses students face, the ways parents can help their children both preventatively and in the event of a crisis. He suggests things to look for when evaluating a college with mental health in mind. He addresses students directly, to suggest ways they can manage their stresses and realize what resources are available for help. Throughout, he is aware of the different perceptions parents and students may have, the different relationships that may exist between parents and students, cultural issues, etc. He discusses academic stress, social issues, drug and alcohol abuse, financial concerns, sleep problems, eating disorders, cutting, depression, anxiety, new onset bipolar, etc. He writes of particular issues faced by URM students, immigrant children, Asian students, international students, children of divorce, gay students, etc. He describes the different ways in which boys versus girls tend to handle issues.</p>

<p>Different stories of individual students are sprinkled throughout. Multiple resources for further information and support are listed, including many web sites.</p>

<p>Forewarned is forearmed.</p>

2

<p>It is very worrisome. One in two chance of severe depression. Wow. I remember when the statistic used to be one in four people. What do you suppose is causing the increase?</p>

3

<p>Two weeks duration......that is the time required to diagnose depression. Dysthymia is another type of depression that is longer duration of symptoms. Perhaps what has changed is the DSMIV and the symptoms required to issue the diagnosis.</p>

<p>A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.</p>

<p>Note: Do note include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.</p>

<p>(1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.</p>

<p>(2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)</p>

<p>(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.</p>

<p>(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day</p>

<p>(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)</p>

<p>(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day</p>

<p>(7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)</p>

<p>(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)</p>

<p>(9) recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide</p>

<p>B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.</p>

<p>C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.</p>

<p>D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).</p>

<p>E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.</p>