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A study of 3,265 college students who have utilized campus counseling services has shed light on the increase of mental illness, as well as the use of psychiatric medications within this demographic. This analysis investigated the prevalence of “mental disorders, suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors” through the years 1997-2009. Though the percentage of students who admit to suicidal thoughts within two weeks of counseling decreased over time (from 26% in 1998 to 11% in 2009), the rate of students suffering from depression increased (from 34% to 41%), as well as the use of psychiatric medications (from 11% to 24%). Recently, many organizations have been founded with the mission of supporting college students affected by mental illness. Active Minds, a past Dave Nee Foundation grant recipient, which now has 271 chapters, is one of the organizations credited with making efforts to help students. Active Minds’ founder, Alison Malmon, received a Leadership Award at the Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards banquet.

More information about this study can be found here.

To learn more about Active Minds, click here.