Mental Health 101: Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Offers Expertise on College Mental Health

Business Wire, August 2, 2007

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Across the country, students are preparing to start or return to college. This is an exciting time, though for some it's overwhelming and stressful. Depression, substance use and eating disorders are increasingly common mental health issues on college campuses. According to a recent survey1, the rate of students reporting ever being diagnosed with depression has increased 56 percent in the last six years, from 10 percent in spring 2000 to 16 percent in spring 2005.

Major depression increases the likelihood of substance abuse, impairs functioning at school; and influences an individual's subsequent development in negative ways. Depression can also co-occur with other disorders, including physical illnesses and other mental disorders, such as anxiety and eating disorders.

"We are seeing more students coming to college with mental health issues," reports the American Psychiatric Association (APA). "Tragedies like at Virginia Tech only amplify the importance of the availability of mental health services on college campuses. It is important for college-age students to seek care so they can have a healthy mind and lead a healthy life."

The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society encourages everyone to learn more about the warnings signs of mental illnesses. For August, www.HealthyMinds.org, the APA's free consumer Web site, features information to help parents learn more about college mental health on topics such as:

* NEW: Suicide Prevention TV Public Service Announcement

* "Let's Talk Facts" brochure: College Students and Alcohol Abuse

* College Students and Alcohol Abuse Statistics

* College Mental Health Fact Sheet: Depression

* Disasters: Mental Health Recommendations for Students and Colleges

* Eating Disorders: Tips for College Students

To speak with an MPS psychiatric expert about mental health issues in the college population, please contact: MPS Executive Director Beverly Sheehan at 781-237-8100, ext. 211, bsheehan@psychiatry-mps.org.

About the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society: The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society represents the majority of psychiatrists in Massachusetts. MPS members are physicians who are committed to providing outstanding medical/psychiatric care through accurate diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of mental health and emotional illnesses. We seek to achieve this goal by promoting public and professional education, legislation that addresses the needs and rights of the mentally and emotionally ill, and by advocating for the allocation of public and private resources for treatment, research, and education. We provide a supportive and informative professional community for our members. Visit www.psychiatry-mps.org for more information. The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society is a member organization of the American Psychiatric Association.

About the American Psychiatric Association: The American Psychiatric Association is the nation's leading medical specialty society whose more than 38,000 physician members specialize in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psych.org and www.HealthyMinds.org.

1 American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2006. Baltimore: American College Health Association; 2007.