Mental Illness High Among College Students

Parents Underestimate the Importance of Preparing Their Children

(ARA) - A recent study revealed that while mental illness is prevalent in the college age population, both students and parents have a lack of education and understanding about it. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) urges parents to talk to their children about mental illness before college and maintain an open dialogue throughout young adulthood. The survey, conducted by NAMI and Abbott Laboratories as a part of Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day, found that 50 percent of students rate their knowledge of mental illness as below average or poor. Parents and students should be aware of the following symptoms:

• Prolonged periods of depression, reported by one in three students
• Suicidal thoughts or feelings, reported by one in four students
• Abnormally reckless behavior, reported by one in seven students

“The impact of untreated mental illness on a college student’s life can be devastating,” says Ken Duckworth, M.D., assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and medical director for NAMI. “In the majority of circumstances, bipolar disorder, like diabetes, can be managed and controlled. However, if left untreated, it can result in negative outcomes and even premature death. Unless we educate our students and work to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help on America’s campuses, young people will suffer needlessly.”

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a serious brain disorder that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy and functioning. It is characterized by episodes of mania and depression that can last from days to months and usually begins in late adolescence. Bipolar disorder is a chronic and generally life-long condition, requiring life-long treatment.

Parents and students do not realize the enormous consequences of an untreated mental illness such as bipolar disorder. Nearly one in four parents and students do not agree that untreated bipolar disorder can lead to suicide, but other studies show as many as 50 percent of people with untreated bipolar disorder attempt suicide at least once.

“Parents should talk to their college student about mental illness and maintain a regular dialogue throughout the school year,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, executive director of NAMI. “The majority of people with bipolar disorder, for example, experience an onset of symptoms before the age of 20, making late adolescence an essential time for awareness.”

For more information visit www.NAMI.org

Courtesy of ARA Content