A survey of community colleges and four-year institutions in California found that community college students had more severe mental health concerns and fewer on-campus mental health resources than four-year college students (Katz and Davison, 2014). HMS also provides a campus-wide measure of student mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as a national assessment of mental health and substance abuse treatment needs (Lipson et al., 2019b).7 Assessments of mental health literacy and peer-to-peer counseling referrals may be useful in the community college setting (Kalkbrenner, Sink, and Smith, 2020). The assumption that bolstering the capacity of the counseling and psychological services centers and creating other programs aimed at improving student mental health only adds to existing financial burdens is not necessarily true given that colleges and universities lose revenue when students drop out because of mental health or substance use problems. As colleges and universities seek to end the stigma tied to mental illness and substance use, institutions of higher education should review how their own systems may enhance stigma, create barriers, or otherwise fail to serve students from groups that have not been well-served by mental health services in the past. Recognizing the signs of substance abuse, encouraging help-seeking behavior, and promoting a healthy campus environment are all important steps in addressing substance abuse in college students.
Prioritizing Funding and Services for Mental Health on Campus
The STM rally featured thought-provoking speakers, including youth ambassadors, a scientist from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) who educated students about the science behind substance use and the adolescent brain, and a young person in recovery sharing an honest testimonial. The purpose was to draw attention to the overall substance use prevention program, generate enthusiasm surrounding the youth ambassadors, and stimulate interest in ambassador LTE social media posts. Large numbers of students attended each rally, which were held as school-wide assemblies. In the spring of 2019, the program staff led interactive STM substance use prevention youth rallies at each participating school. These competitions were also intended to boost intervention reach and amplify prevention messaging—for example, prizes were awarded for generating the most social media engagement (ie, shares, reactions, or comments) and using the #livingtheexample hashtag.
For example, it is well documented that women and faculty of color bear a disproportionate burden of providing mentoring and student support, which extends to supporting student mental health. To involve faculty more directly in efforts to address student mental health, faculty will require adequate support, including training, from the institution. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) has issued a guide for staff and administrators that offers advice on recognizing signs and effectively engaging and accommodating students with mental health problems (Jones, Bower, Furuzawa, 2016a). Closer to home, the University of Texas at Austin's unique Wellbeing in Learning Environments program “helps faculty make small shifts in teaching that could make a major difference in students' mental health and wellbeing” (University of Texas at Austin, 2019). Peer-to-peer initiatives are powerful not only in building a support system, but also at a more fundamental level, raising students' knowledge and awareness of these issues and how they play out within their own campus communities (Sontag-Padilla et al., 2018a).
Other campuses have developed websites listing all available mental health and substance use resources on campus and in the community or used posters around campus alerting students how to access help if they are suicidal or otherwise suffering emotionally. As noted in the introduction to this chapter, it takes everyone on campus to contribute to an environment that fosters student wellbeing, helps protect students from developing mental health and substance use issues, and helps facilitate students' access to services that would benefit them. Institutions of higher education should work to ensure students have access to high-quality mental health and substance use treatment services.
Alcohol’s Effects on Health
These legal issues can have long-lasting consequences, including fines, probation, suspension, or even expulsion from college. It is important to note that these changes may not always indicate substance use and can be caused by other factors as well. These changes may vary depending on the specific substance being used. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders often coexist and can create a cycle of self-medication. Collaborating with law enforcement and local communities can also help in reducing the availability of substances. Colleges and universities should implement policies and initiatives that address substance availability, promote responsible consumption, and limit access to illicit substances.
Bridging Campus and Community Resources to Increase Capacity
The global burden of disease study showed that drug use is a significant factor in Hispanic and Latino Student Mental Health Guide the health burden in the adolescent and young adult population. Except for the mixed effectiveness of electronic interventions, all other intervention measures are beneficial in alleviating substance use problems among adolescents. In addition, we analyzed and summarized the advantages and challenges of intervening in adolescent substance use in educational settings.
- Overall, doctors feel that this type of treatment is very effective and a safe option for addicts, since the medication itself is not harmful like the abused drugs are and will help them have a less difficult time during withdrawals.94
- Partial correlations (controlling for past month alcohol frequency) were conducted for students who were past month marijuana or medication misusers.
- Sixty-seven percent of the respondents said student vaping, smoking, and/or chewing tobacco products is “a challenge” or “a major challenge” to deal with in their districts.
Particularly, substance use in schools can lead to educational disruptions and cause emotional trauma for staff and students. College Drinking – Changing the CultureCreated by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, this website is a one-stop resource for comprehensive research-based information on issues related to alcohol use and binge drinking among college students. Providing easily accessible and confidential counseling services is instrumental in addressing substance abuse on campus. Substance abuse among students is a pressing issue that can significantly impact academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being.
