Student Stress at College:Behavioral and Emotional Issues

Jon Brunner, Ph.D.Director, Counseling and Health Services

FGCU Health and Wellness Services

Health Clinic Counseling Center (CAPS) Adaptive Services for Students with

Disabilities Prevention Services (health education) Testing Center

AP-mtvu Poll April and May 2009

40 US Colleges, 2240 undergraduates, age 18-24 85% of students felt stress in their daily lives 42% felt down and hopeless several days in the past

two weeks 13% showed symptoms of being at risk for mild

depression and 9% moderate/severe(10% of adult Americans experience depressive disorders yearly)

Only a third of those at risk for moderate/severe depression received support or treatment

College Stress and Emotional Issues

The American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II)

Fall 2008 2007 Institutions=40,n=26,685 Data from original version since 2000

NCHA Survey2000-2007

93% of students reported at least once feeling overwhelmed by all they had to do(94.7%)

80% felt very sad(78%) 50-62% reported

feeling hopeless once during the year(61%)

40-45% reported being “so depressed that it was difficult to function”(41%)

13-15% reported they were diagnosed w/ depression w/ 40% taking anti-depressant medication(16.7%,41.5%)

Nearly 10% seriously considered suicide w/ over 1% attempting suicide(10%,.4%)

NCHA-II Survey2008 Incidence in Last 12 months

87% of students reported at least once feeling overwhelmed by all they had to do

64% felt very sad 47% reported feeling

hopeless once during the year

31% reported being “so depressed that it was difficult to function”

10% reported getting enough sleep to feel rested in the last 7 days

75% reported finding something traumatic or very difficult to handle (academics, intimate relations, finances)

20% of the students reported being treated by a professional (anxiety and depression)

NCHA-II Survey Contd.2008 Incidence in Last 12 months

82% felt exhausted (not from physical activity)

39% felt overwhelming anger

6% intentionally injured themselves

6% seriously considered suicide

The Top 10 Impediments to Academic Performance According to Students

2000-2007

Stress- 32%(32.4%) Cold/Sore Throat-

26%(20.7%) Sleep Difficulties-

24%(27%) Concern for Family or

Friend- 18%(21.2%) Depression/Anxiety-

16%(14.3%)

Relationship Difficulty- 15.5%(17.6%)

Internet/ Games- 15% ** (12%)

Sinus Infection- 8.5%(8.5%) Death of Friend/Family-

8.5%(11%) Alcohol Use- 7%(4.5%)

ADHD 6%

The Top 10 Impediments to Academic Performance According to Students

2008

Stress- 27% Sleep Difficulties- 19% Anxiety-18% Cold/Flu/Sore Throat-

15% Work-13% Concern for Family or

Friend-11%

Depression-11% Internet/ Games- 11% Relationship difficulties-11% Participation in extracurricular

activities- 10%

2008 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors(n=284)

Robert Gallagher, University of Pittsburgh

95% of Center Directors report that the trend toward a greater number of students with severe psychological problems continues to be true on their campuses

Directors report 49% of their center’s clients have severe

psychological problems, 7.5% so impaired they cannot remain, 41.5% with severe problems that can be treated

With a ratio of 1:1906, 64% report staff burnout and shortages during peak times, 62% decreased focus on students with developmental issues, 34% reported ending cases prematurely

26 % of student clients take psychiatric medication 93% believe there is an increase in students coming to campus

already on psychiatric medications

2008 Center Directors Survey Continued

Directors reported 118 student suicides with only 13.6 % being current or former clients

DIRECTORS CONCERNS Highest reported concern was “issues related to handling

students with more serious problems” (67.3%) 66.5% concerned about finding referrals for students needing

long term help 59.5% reported concern about growing demand for services

without an increase in resources 53.2% reported a growing concern of self injury reports

CORE Survey

Developed by the Department of Education Published by the CORE Institute University Southern Illinois Measures alcohol and drug usage attitudes,

related events and perceptions of students Completed online

CORE Survey Forms

CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey-Long Form (Core Survey)

Survey of Students’ Perceptions of Campus Alcohol and other Drug Norms (Norms Survey)

2004 Both Surveys Special Question n=640

“ I feel comfortable in situations where alcohol is consumed.”

Always – 20.9%

Often- 37.4%

Sometimes- 24.8%

Rarely- 11.3%

Never- 5.8 %

Norm Survey:Attitude Toward Alcohol

Response Options:a. Drinking is never a good thing to do b. Drinking is all right but a person should not get

drunkc. Occasionally getting drunk is OK as long as it does

not interfere with academics or other responsibilities

d. Occasionally getting drunk is OK even if it does interfere with academics or responsibilities

e. Frequently getting drunk is OK if that’s what the individual wants to do.

Norm Survey:Attitude Toward Alcohol

Response Options:a. Drinking is never a good thing to do (.3%)b. Drinking is all right but a person should not get

drunk (5.0%)c. Occasionally getting drunk is OK as long as it does

not interfere with academics or other responsibilities (52.1% - median)

d. Occasionally getting drunk is OK even if it does interfere with academics or responsibilities (20.5%)

e. Frequently getting drunk is OK if that’s what the individual wants to do (22.1%)

Norm Survey: Alcohol Use

General Student

Perceived Norm

Binge Drinking 54%

Average Drinks 5.8

Consumed

Abstinence from 17.8%

alcohol

Actual Norm

38%

3.2

17.3%

Student Perceptions of Alcohol Use

77.2% Breaks the Ice 75.6 enhances social activity 74.4% gives people

something to do 68.7% gives people

something to talk about 62.3% allows people to have

more fun 61.8% facilitates a

connection with peers 59.1% facilitates male

bonding

53.9% facilitates sexual opportunities

48.4 %facilitates female bonding

27.7% makes women sexier 17.8% makes men sexier 17.5% makes me sexier

2001 2004 2008 Reference Group

Consumed alcohol in past year

85% 81% 83% 84%

Consumed alcohol in past 30 days

72% 69% 64% 72%

Under age consumed in past 30 days

68% 65% 54% 68%

Binge drinking in previous 2 weeks

36% 38% 37% 47%

Average # drinks a week

3.6 3.2 4 5.8

Driven Under the influence

31% 18% 27% 26%

FGCU CORE Survey Comparison

2008 CORE SurveyIllegal Drug Use (2004 Comparisons)

Marijuana 28.7 % used in past year (30.6%) 14.8% used this past 30 days (17.5 %) 11.4% used illegal drug other than marijuana

in past year (16.0%) 4.2% used illegal drug other than marijuana

in past 30 days (5.3%)

Suicide Facts in the General Population

In America 30,000 Die from Suicide Every Day 80 Americans Take Their Own

Lives Every Day 1,500 Americans Attempt Suicide 11th Leading Cause of Death 3rd Leading Cause of Death Among 15 – 24

Year Age Group

College Student Suicide Facts

Suicide is the 2nd Leading Cause of Death for College Students

According to JED Foundation and NMHA over 1,000 College Students Die Each Year from Suicide

Rate of Suicide is 7.5/100,000 Students

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Located: Second Floor Howard Hall

Hours 8:00 – 6:00 Mon.-Thurs.8:00 - 5:00 Friday

Phone: 590-7950

Provides 24 hour Emergency Services

CAPS Services

Personal Counseling & Therapy Career Counseling Psychiatric Services Consultation Referral Case Management Emergency On-call (24/7 availability) Outreach Programs Assessment Services Website http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/Counseling/

(mental health screening and other electronic resources)

CAPS Counseling Totals

Counseling Session Totals

Percent Change

2003 1949

2004 2465 26.5%

2005 2866 16.3%

2006 3653 27.5%

2007 3902 2.3%

2008 4720 21.3%

2008-09 Academic Year:Reasons students came to CAPS for Services

Anxiety 63% Stress 54% Depression 52% Self Esteem 34% Relationship 34% Family Concerns 25% Dating/Marriage 21% Academic 15%

2006-08 Student Survey of CAPS Counseling Services

98% agreed they were comfortable using CAPS services, would use them again and would refer others to CAPS

95% agreed that their counselor honestly cared about them

89% agreed they were better able to understand themselves

88% agreed they were able to better deal with their concerns/problems

2006-08 Student Survey of CAPS Counseling Services cont’d

82% agreed counseling had a positive effect on their overall campus experience

63% agreed that counseling made them better able to focus on academic and study requirements

57% agreed that counseling made it possible for them to continue as a student at FGCU

Remember the Developmental Issues

For Parents:

1. Competence-trusting your student

2. Redefining yourself-role change from caretaker to mentor

3. Separation-mange your anxiety

4. Intimacy-staying close without being over involved

For Students:

5. Achieving confidence and identity

6. Separation and independence

7. Managing emotions and achieving intimacy

Do’s and Don’ts

DO:

Stay in touch, encourage, be realistic, allow space

DON’T:

Panic, tell them what to do, take over and assume responsibility, insist on frequent visits or phone calls, press your child on what they will do after school

Parent Tips (develop the supportive partnership)

If your student has had psychological issues that required counseling/therapy and/or psychiatric medication, refer them to CAPS from the start

Find out if going to college is fulfilling their goals. Are they happy?(monitor don’t over react)

Ask about what they are discovering in terms of a career (it is OK to change)

Ask about how their relationships are going. Ask them how they are eating and sleeping (seriously!). Ask about the pressure and stress they are feeling. Try to help

them see through it and be supportive

Parent Tips cont’d

Suggest they go to the CAPS website and take whatever screening they think is relevant to how they feel.

Normalize the idea of seeking help let them know it is not a sign of weakness

Suggest they go see a counselor or therapist in CAPS. They can come just once to consult with a CAPS professional to see what we think or might suggest.

Tell them you understand college students drink, but that you would hope that it does not interfere in their academic or social life or put them or their friends at risk (explain what you mean)

When should I be concerned about my student’s mental health?

Social Withdrawal Marked change in appearance, self care, hygiene Excessive self criticism Tearful calls outnumber the others Talk of hopelessness Loss of motivation Excessive fatigue or lethargic mood Extreme increases in energy, rapid speech and thoughts Inability to think and concentrate, dramatic change in

grades References to self harm or suicide