> Concern for student depression on the rise
Concern for student depression on the rise
Contacts:
Pam Whiting, 778.782.3692, pwhiting@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Website: http://students.sfu.ca/health
Pam Whiting, 778.782.3692, pwhiting@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Website: http://students.sfu.ca/health
October 2, 2007
New studies indicate more female than male college and university students visit campus counsellors for depression, but at Simon Fraser University, counsellors are concerned about both genders.
“While it is true that more female postsecondary students are diagnosed with depression,” notes Erika Horwitz, SFU associate director of counselling, “this is also the case in the general population. SFU Health and Counselling Services recognizes that both men and women suffer from depression, although there may be differences in what symptoms they present or how willing they are to seek help.”
According to recent American studies, women enter college with higher levels of stress and depression, and with lower ratings of their own emotional and physical health than men. Those gender differences persist over four years of college.
A 2007 Canadian Mental Health Association study indicates twice as many women as men are likely to seek help for symptoms related to depression than males.
A 2004 survey using the National College Health Assessment’s (U.S.-based) North America-wide research parameters, reported 43 percent of SFU students as saying that stress was negatively affecting their academic performance. More than 40 percent of students reported feeling “so depressed it was difficult to function” between one and 10 times within the previous 12-month period.
The 2004 survey also indicated that many postsecondary institutions are paying closer attention to the mental wellness of female students in light of their increasing enrollment, success and depression rate at North American colleges.
Pam Whiting, SFU Health and Counselling Services (HCS) director, says HCS collaborates with faculty and staff in encouraging students to access HCS services. Whiting adds: “Some professors have required their students to attend an HCS workshop as part of their class activities. Others have asked counsellors to host workshops on a variety of health topics, including work-life balance, stress management and mood enhancement.”
This fall, SFU Health and Counselling Services will be using the NCHA to again anonymously survey the overall health of the university student population on a number of fronts, including mental health. The survey will cover all three campuses and involve 4,000 students.
During Mental Illness Awareness Week, Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, a national public education campaign, HCS is holding several activities and hosting information tables to increase mental health awareness.
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Backgrounder:
• During the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters at SFU, HCS held more than 1200 initial counselling sessions. In the last year, more than 300 students have used a depression-screening tool.
• HCS is offering a six-week workshop series this fall that teaches students skills to cope with depressive symptoms and strategies for enhancing mood and managing feelings.
• HCS offers an online mental health screening program that screens for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• HCS runs an after-hour crisis line, Nightline, manned by trained SFU student volunteers. The number of male and female callers is roughly the same.
• HCS is collaborating with mental-health professionals at Fraser Health and with several non-governmental organizations to provide programs that address mental health and illness. One of them provides college-transfer students with information on HCS’s services. HCS will attend an on-site depression-screening event at Douglas College, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
“While it is true that more female postsecondary students are diagnosed with depression,” notes Erika Horwitz, SFU associate director of counselling, “this is also the case in the general population. SFU Health and Counselling Services recognizes that both men and women suffer from depression, although there may be differences in what symptoms they present or how willing they are to seek help.”
According to recent American studies, women enter college with higher levels of stress and depression, and with lower ratings of their own emotional and physical health than men. Those gender differences persist over four years of college.
A 2007 Canadian Mental Health Association study indicates twice as many women as men are likely to seek help for symptoms related to depression than males.
A 2004 survey using the National College Health Assessment’s (U.S.-based) North America-wide research parameters, reported 43 percent of SFU students as saying that stress was negatively affecting their academic performance. More than 40 percent of students reported feeling “so depressed it was difficult to function” between one and 10 times within the previous 12-month period.
The 2004 survey also indicated that many postsecondary institutions are paying closer attention to the mental wellness of female students in light of their increasing enrollment, success and depression rate at North American colleges.
Pam Whiting, SFU Health and Counselling Services (HCS) director, says HCS collaborates with faculty and staff in encouraging students to access HCS services. Whiting adds: “Some professors have required their students to attend an HCS workshop as part of their class activities. Others have asked counsellors to host workshops on a variety of health topics, including work-life balance, stress management and mood enhancement.”
This fall, SFU Health and Counselling Services will be using the NCHA to again anonymously survey the overall health of the university student population on a number of fronts, including mental health. The survey will cover all three campuses and involve 4,000 students.
During Mental Illness Awareness Week, Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, a national public education campaign, HCS is holding several activities and hosting information tables to increase mental health awareness.
-30-
Backgrounder:
• During the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 semesters at SFU, HCS held more than 1200 initial counselling sessions. In the last year, more than 300 students have used a depression-screening tool.
• HCS is offering a six-week workshop series this fall that teaches students skills to cope with depressive symptoms and strategies for enhancing mood and managing feelings.
• HCS offers an online mental health screening program that screens for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• HCS runs an after-hour crisis line, Nightline, manned by trained SFU student volunteers. The number of male and female callers is roughly the same.
• HCS is collaborating with mental-health professionals at Fraser Health and with several non-governmental organizations to provide programs that address mental health and illness. One of them provides college-transfer students with information on HCS’s services. HCS will attend an on-site depression-screening event at Douglas College, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.