<p>"The number of college students who are afflicted with a serious mental illness is rising, according to...the American Psychological Assn. The findings came from an analysis of 3,265 college students who used campus counseling services between...1997 and...2009. The students were screened for mental disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behavior."</p>
<p>More</a> college students are afflicted with severe mental illness - latimes.com</p>
<p>No. It just means more people are using the services because it is less of a social stigma to do so these days. Then you have the increase in people who claim mental illness to get prescription medications. Also add to the fact that kids these days are overly dramatic and more childish, so they are more apt to make themselves believe that they have mental illness. Maybe as a way to get attention because they’re so self-absorbed.</p>
<p>Good call ^</p>
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<p>i agree. i’m 17 and i think people my age whine, complain, and expect things to be handed to them. if they don’t they exaggerate and just overall act like drama queens.</p>
<p>Glad to see we’re all on the same page</p>
<p>This thread didn’t quite go the way I expected, but I think you brought up some very good points.</p>
<p>I would bet that doctor’s are better at diagnosing conditions now than in 1997. More people are being diagnosed with mental health conditions in general, one reason being that doctor’s are more willing to diagnose mild conditions that would have usually been pushed aside. Also, just because there is a diagnosis, does not mean that state of mind is permenant. Depression is probably one of the most common diagnoses’, and it is considered to be curable. Depression is more common in teenagers and young adults as well. You can say it’s just a bunch of whiny kids, but I have multiple friends who were either self harming or suicidal, a couple who attempted suicide, and two friends who have bad cases of ADD which have resulted in them facing considerable legal trouble and dropping out of college. Sure, some people probably abuse the system, but there are serious mental health issues out there, and doctor’s would rather over react than let someone who is reaching out for help leave without treatment (think about the liability issues if someone’s issues were ignored by a dr and they went and hurt somebody).</p>
<p>Yes, people in the industry probably over diagnose, but that makes up for years of under diagnosis and for all the years that mental health issues remained untreated. There weren’t many breakthroughs until the 70s and 80s, and the treatment of the mentally ill through the 50s and even 60s is sickening. The industry is at a much better point today than 30/40/50 years ago. I’d rather them over diagnose and eventually find out someone doesn’t need certain meds, than under treat. Plus, the entire field is going off of what people say. As in, there aren’t medical tests for conditions, doctors just have to believe what the people claim they feel.</p>
<p>Agree with tobacco and belief.</p>
<p>"i agree. i’m 17 and i think people my age whine, complain, and expect things to be handed to them. if they don’t they exaggerate and just overall act like drama queens. "</p>
<p>Agree completely, the depravity of this generation never ceases to astound me.</p>
<p>I really appreciate how everybody here is the exception.</p>
<p>All the above points are good ones. But another big part of the increase in students with mental health issues is that in recent years, advances in medications have made it possible for many students to attend college who in earlier years were not stable enough to do so. And many of them, once their conditions are stabilized, are brilliant and talented.</p>
<p>More people going to college = more people with mental issues.</p>
<p>Simple as that.</p>
<p>agree with gadad</p>
<p>All of the above points sound right, IMO</p>
<p>Doctors are more prone to diagnose the chicken-%hit because of conflicts of interest with the drug companies. It’s stupid in all honesty; if anyone had spouted half the psycho nonsense about made-up disorders in the days of Rome, they probably would have gotten slapped and told to deal with it.</p>
<p>I think I’ll set up a medical practice that does just that:
Mom - “My kid’s acting out”
Dr. V - bring the kid to me
(kid is slapped and told to stop doing stupid things)
Dr. V - that will be $150</p>
<p>I agree with Belief but Tobacco brings up some good points also.</p>
<p>In my college, the Counseling Center is for people with personal problems, not serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, etc - those students would go to the Health Center to see a psychiatrist. I’m sure this varies by college though. </p>
<p>I have personally talked to a Counselor at my college 3 times. I felt very anxious and stressed because my mom was dying, we had serious financial problems, and I had 2 other personal problems - I feel talking to a therapist definitely helped. It had nothing to do with mental illness or meds - sometimes people simply need someone to talk to, even for a fresh perspective. It is very stressful to watch someone close to you (like a parent) get sick and die. I recommend seeing a counselor (even just once or twice) if you’re struggling with this problem. </p>
<p>Some of you sound like such condescending jerks. God forbid you ever have a personal problem or someone you know dies.I think it’s a good thing people are more willing to see counselors about a problem, because it probably prevents more serious problems (like suicide).</p>
<p>^ You assume that you’re the only one with problems which is the reason why some kids these days are so overdramatic with the “no one understands me” attitude. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t mind it if it was a legitament reason like in your case springgreen but I see so many people milking it.</p>
<p>Mental illness is a serious thing and nobody should joke about it - or say that it’s “made up” in any fashion or form. It is very real and unless someone experiences it, it is hard to imagine it. People who simply claim that those with mental illness are “faking” it and “imagining” it are obviously very narrow-minded and it’s sad to see such hurtful comments.</p>
<p>My sister is going to a Senior in college and she has bipolar disorder and severe depression, two conditions which were discovered during her sophomore year at college. Her struggle was been unbelievably hard and she has to deal with both the academic and social aspect of college knowing that she is far different from others. Her struggles have led to multiple stints in hospitals due to overdose or improper use of medicine and my parents are fighting to see her graduate.</p>
<p>I don’t see how one could literally spend time “joking” around about mental illness. Imagine having to go through the academic aspect of college - the rigors of academia, getting good grades, you name it - all while balancing the social aspect of college - drinking, relationships, etc - with a mental disorder. My sister has found it difficult and although she is very outgoing and even in Greek Life, her time at college has been very hard.</p>
<p>I’d be very careful before you go about saying these things about people with mental disorders. These are very REAL conditions and to attack people who face them is disgusting.</p>
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Where are you even getting that from? I wrote a post specifically encouraging people who need help to see counselors, even if it’s just a few times. The reality is that in our society there is a stigma about people needing mental help of any kind. That’s why often people who struggle with issues like anxiety, depression, etc, are sometimes afraid to get help. I remember I felt really embarrassed about seeing a counselor even though it was good for me, for example. </p>
<p>People like you who go around saying things like oh they’re just “milking it” and saying they’re just being “overdramatic” are not really helping, whether or not you meant to be hurtful :/</p>
<p>Anyway once again I’d like to add that counseling isn’t mostly for mentally ill people. Most people I know who have seen counselors did so for the following reasons:
<p>So I think people go to counseling to resolve personal issues more than for mental illnesses. Those are more serious and usually they see psychiatrists for those. Counselors or therapists aren’t even licensed to write prescriptions.</p>