Depression In The Counseling Center

Depression has become one of the most prominent mental health disorders in America, affecting nearly fifty-three percent of students on college campuses (Furr). Merriman-Webster defines depression as “a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies,” (Depression). Depression is the leading cause of suicide ideation and fulfillment in the United States (Gilbert), causing suicide to be the second leading cause of death in young adults ages 15-29 year olds (Blotch). Furthermore, depression is the cause for many other health related

This lack of knowledge among students is likely due to the fact that the counseling center does little to no advertising of its services and rarely utilizes the mental health organizations affiliated with it. For example, the counseling center is closely associated with the Center for Health, Education, and Wellness at UT, also known as CHEW. CHEW specializes in hosting events around campus to educate students on topics such as alcohol consumption, sexual assault, and mental health. However, the number of events that CHEW actually holds is minimal. Organizations such as CHEW are vital to the university to educate students not only on problems that they may be facing but also resources available to them to cope with such issues. In a study conducted on college students throughout the nation, “between 30% and 60% of student research participants were unaware of the or uncertain about the availability of campus mental health services” (Yorgason 173). These statistics can certainly be applied to the students at UT; many of them are unaware of the numerous services offered by the counseling center and they are free of charge to the student. Despite the numerous flaws in the operation of the counseling center, it is still vital to the students of the university and has the potential to become an idol in

The center prides itself in offering students with a plethora of services to help them through any situation that they are going through, but the counseling center is not a long-term facility for students to utilize. Several mental health disorders that are commonly seen in college age students require more than a monthly appointment with a psychologist; they could require up to a weekly or biweekly appointment, requirements that the counseling center simply could not fulfill. When students with such mental health problems come to the center, the should be referred to a long-term psychiatrist instead of leading the student to believe that they can continue to go to the counseling center for an indefinite amount of time. Next, the center needs to alter the way they deal with first time patients. While an initial risk assessment is vital to protect not only the student but also other people who the student may encounter, students should be able to meet with a psychologist on their first visit. Many of the students’ problems could be dealt with during one appointment, but instead students are required to book an appointment a month away when more than likely the issue they are dealing with will be resolved. This tactic, while may be more time consuming in the moment, will eventually pay off in the amount of appointments that they counseling center receives.