Health Center counselors wrestle with fuller schedules
By Hannah Gray
A simple cross with the markings of RAVG on the bottom, WSO on the top, and Oct. 15, 2007 through the middle.
The tattoo has become a symbol of great importance to sophomore Rowell Gacad.
RAVG - Rowell Augusto Vergel de Dios Gacad, his name.
WSO - We Shall Overcome, the Facebook support group Gacad created.
And Oct. 15, 2007 - the day he planned to commit suicide, which he decided the night before. Fortunately, Gacad was able to talk himself out of it.
"That night in October is when my whole life changed," Gacad said
According to Paul Myers, a psychologist, as well as the director of Health Services, 45 to 50 percent of college students think about committing suicide at some point during their college years. However, the vast majority of them seek better ways of coping.
Gacad's depression began at the end of his junior year in high school - the time when Gacad was under the most stress.
"I knew something was wrong," Gacad said. "I decided to talk to my parents."
College students are seeking psychiatric help more than ever, according to the Healthy Minds Study, an annual national survey conducted through the University of Michigan.
At the University Health Center, the counselors' hours have been expanded to cover the summer school session - a ten-month employment as opposed to an original nine-month employment, according to Myers.
Additionally, the counselors' schedules are filling up faster than they have in the past, Myers said.
In general, according to Kelly Petrino, a psychologist for the University Health Center, openings for appointments have gradually filled up in the first five to six weeks of the school year. But a new pattern has emerged.
"This year, the beginning of the semester was pretty full," Patrino said. "Busy from the get-go."
According to the Healthy Minds Study, 90 percent of college counseling services are seeing an increase in the number and severity of cases dealing with mental health concerns.
The increases in students seeking psychiatric help among colleges do not necessarily point to an increase in mental health issues, according to the Healthy Minds Study. They could reflect a greater awareness about mental illness.
Another explanation is society's growing acceptance of seeking mental health treatment, according to Petrino.
There is a "greater openness among young people to seek help," Myers said.
"Less stigma is associated with seeking help," said Deana Julka, an associate professor of psychology. During her 13 years at UP, Julka said, students have come to her for advice on relationships, eating disorders and depression.
The Healthy Minds Study also cites earlier diagnosis and treatment as another factor.
Campuses are also seeing an increase in students on medication before coming to college, according to Petrino.
This has been "a trend echoed by colleagues," Petrino said.
For the past three years, eight percent of incoming freshman have already been diagnosed with depression and six percent with anxiety, according to Myers.
The University Health Center sees students with a range of mental health symptoms.
Myers said the top reasons students seek help for mental health are mood disorders, anxiety, relationship issues, body image disorders and substance abuse.
The mood disorders include adjustment disorder with depression, depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder, according to Myers.
For Gacad, relief came from reaching out to his family and friends.
He formed a Facebook group, We Shall Overcome, to create discussion and build support for "when people go through tough times, they will never have to feel alone again," according to the Facebook group information.
Gacad created the group because talking through his feelings helped him survive his depression.
"One of the main reasons I got over it was talking about it with people," he said. "And knowing there were people there for me."
The Health Center can be reached at 503-943-7314, and more information about counseling services and appointments is available at the center's Web site.
Go to http://www.up.edu/healthcenter/ and, on the left side of the screen, click on Mental Health.
