Mental Health on College Campuses

There was an interesting story on NPR yesterday about the increasing need for mental health services among College students. We have a very good counseling Center on campus with two full time professionals and both my colleague Pastor Ramona and I provide support for students with mental health concerns.

This is a topic near and dear to my heart because it was in College that I first began receiving treatment for depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's been a long journey that included a three day hospital stay in 2000, but I'm immensely grateful for the help I've received.

Whether or not the rate of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders among College students is increasing is hard to say. It's quite possible that the increase in students seeking professional help is a result of a greater openness to treatment, but I don't think anyone would dispute that those receive treatment are just the tip of the iceberg.

Faith can be an incredibly helpful resource in dealing with mental illness but oftentimes people of faith are the least likely to seek help. There is a destructive belief that seeking help for a mental illness is a sign that one's faith isn't strong enough. (If you believe that rubbish, read through the Psalms sometime)

On the contrary I would argue that dealing with the pain of depression brought me closer to God. This makes sense when we realize that God is most clearly revealed in the places we least expect. On the cross in suffering and weakness. This is a God who does not run away from our pain but instead meets us there, and brings us out on the other side.

So my advice to College students that are struggling with mental health issues is to get help. Ironically admitting weakness and powerlessness is the most honest thing that any human being can do. Depression and other mental health challenges simply bring the reality of our dependance on God into clearer focus.

You are not alone in facing these challenges, and there is hope. Step forward into the darkness and discover that you're not alone, and it isn't as scary as you might think.