by Chris Pow, al.com
Colleges across the country are taking a closer look at how they support students with mental health issues as the number of reported psychiatric disorders on campus increases.
The Wall Street Journal reports that schools are seeing more students report psychological problems through their disability offices.
The schools, required to grant "reasonable accommodations" for students with mental illnesses under the American Disabilities Act, differ widely in their programs and services, according to the report.
The American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment spring 2011 survey of 105,781 students at 129 schools shows 21.6 percent of college students reported being diagnosed or treated by a professional for one or more mental health conditions or addiction within the previous 12 months. In the spring 2009 survey, 19.1 percent of students reported being treated for one or more condition.
Academics, finances and intimate relationships were the top three things listed by students as "traumatic or very difficult to handle," according to the survey.
A wrongful death suit has resulted in a policy change at Virginia Tech after a student killed himself a few weeks after an email to the school's health center from an acquaintance reported the student had discussed suicide.
The Associated Press reports that a settlement agreement between the family of Daniel Kim and Virginia Tech requires the school to notify parents or guardians of "potentially suicidal" students unless officials can cite a reason not to do so.
The spring 2011 National College Health Assessment survey shows 6.4 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide within the year. 1.1 percent of students said they attempted suicide, according to the survey
A study commissioned by the ACHA found that suicide was the second-leading cause of death behind vehicle accidents. Suicides accounted for 6.18 deaths per 100,000 students in the 2009-10 school year, according to data from 157 schools.
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