RCL #2 Articles on Penn State Mental Health Issues

The two articles I read were both specific to Penn State’s CAPS. The first was an article written for the Daily Collegian that talks about the struggles of getting counseling services from CAPS. It is especially intriguing because it tells personal stories of students who have sought help from CAPS. A student named Marion shares the story of her struggle with panic attacks. She needed counseling services at school, however, she found herself waitlisted for CAPS and unable to get the help she needed. This led to her having several panic attacks during the semester, interfering with her education. Luckily for Marion, she was eventually able to get help and it has greatly reduced her panic attacks. The article also talks generally about the shortage of CAPS employees and space that causes these long waits for students. It is disturbing to know that students with mental health issues often cannot receive help, negatively affecting their education, career, and social life.

The other article I read was from Penn State’s Student Affairs that consists of stats about CAPS and the mental health of students at Penn State. It states that CAPS sees in excess 2,500 students each year. 40% of these patients are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and half are diagnosed with a mood disorder such as depression. It also provides stats that can cause mental health issues such as stress, abuse, and discrimination.

The stats in the Student Affairs article prove that there is a great need for mental health services for Penn State students, and the Daily Collegian’s article shows that currently, CAPS is unable to fill this need properly. Our deliberation seeks to discuss what can be done to improve psychiatric services and the overall mental health of the Penn State community. The Student Affairs article can be used to show to participants that mental health issues are very prominent in our community. We can also provide statistics to show there is a high demand for psychiatric help. The article for the Daily Collegian can help to show the community that we do not currently have the resources needed to cope with the high demand for counseling. Marion’s story can even be mentioned during the deliberation to add a personal touch for the participants.

These articles can be used to help foster a discussion on mental health issues at Penn State and what possible actions can be taken to address these issues.

Mallon, Morganne. “Getting Counseling Services at Penn State Easier Said than Done for Some.” The Daily Collegian, 8 Feb. 2016, www.collegian.psu.edu/features/article_87095f1a -ce36-11e5-b2a3-fbe95d5c3c19.html.

“Important Statistics.” Student Affairs, https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/distress/workshop/overview_stats.html

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