Mental Health at Stony Brook

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/health/20campus.html?_r=1&sq=psychological%20disorders&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=2&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1303358752-Wz76VG97LFszx2HqSiGZEg

I found an article online about mental health needs being a major problem on college campuses including Stony Brook. I remember when I first came to Stony Brook, my RA gave us all sorts of information including how to contact the Center for Outreach and Prevention if we needed to.

From the article it said, "Forty-six percent of college students said they felt “things were hopeless” at least once in the previous 12 months, and nearly a third had been so depressed that it was difficult to function, according to a 2009 survey by the American College Health Association." However, "Of 133 student suicides reported in the American College Counseling Association’s survey of 320 institutions last year, fewer than 20 had sought help on campus."

Students are afraid to seek professional help because they don't want to be diagnosed with depression or a disorder. Twenty students out of 133 students actually sought help on campus which means that 85% of the students kept their problems to themselves. At a Christian conference I went to, we did an anonymous poll and almost everyone had the thought of attempting suicide in the past. It is so important to talk about your feelings to someone you trust. Depression is not permanent, it's only temporary. And most importantly, you are not alone.