The World Health Organization puts the number of individuals suffering from mental illness at 450 million across the globe. Despite the pervasiveness of the problem, mental illness is stigmatized in many communities. That stigma may prevent sufferers from coming forward to seek help, fearing that labeling themselves as mentally ill may impact their job or relationships. Yet ignoring or failing to treat mental health issues sometimes has the effect of compounding the symptoms that an individual may be suffering from.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and three-quarters have begun by age 24. As a result, the onset of mental illness is likely to occur when young people are in their pre-college and college-age years.
Further research bolsters the link between mental illness and early adulthood. More than 1 in 4 young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 have a diagnosable mental health illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Tragically, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Since many college-age students are either at risk of or already suffering from a form of mental illness, colleges and universities have unique responsibilities toward their student populations. College students may be away from the support structures of home, leaving them reliant on the mental health resources available on campus.
A number of groups are trying to elevate the national conversation about mental health and emotional well-being on college campuses. Among them is the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that describes itself as the “nation’s leading organization working to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students.”
Another such organization is the Steve Fund, which is dedicated to “improving the support for the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color.” Some research indicates that students of color are more likely to suffer from depression but are less likely to seek treatment.
