Listen to students to address mental health needs on campus

We are concerned by the increase in the number students at Iowa's colleges and universities seeking help for mental health issues in recent years. Good physical and mental health is closely linked to academic success,

Healthy environments and safety nets at the state's institutions of higher learning are important public investments. Initiatives to improve mental health services clearly are necessary and should be led with meaningful input by the people with the most at stake.

Demand for mental health services at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University has been increasing about 10 percent each year, UI Counseling Service Director Barry Schreier told members of the Board of Regents' new campus safety and security subcommittee last week. He reported that the University of Northern Iowa has seen a yearly 13 percent increase in demand for services.

These increases, coupled with the increased severity of the illnesses being reported, have far outpaced available resources. The counseling staff-to-student ratio at the University of Iowa is the lowest among all Big Ten schools, with one staff member per 2,750 students, Shreier reported. In fact, none of Iowa's three public universities have counseling centers staffed at the recommended ratio of one staff member for every 1,500 students, making it difficult for students to get the help they need when they most need it.

Shreier's report should sound an alarm about the widening gap between student mental health needs and campus resources here in Iowa, and spur a serious discussion about how best to bridge that gap. In that discussion, our students should play a central role.

They are the primary stakeholders and are best suited to consider and propose responses and preventive measures to address increasing mental health needs on campus. They can provide meaningful feedback about ideas that already are under discussion - embedding counselors in high-risk department and student populations, online suicide prevention training for students, establishing peer supports, and so on - and are sure to have unique ideas to share.

The increasing need for mental health resources on campus is part of a national trend. There is no easy solution. Addressing student mental health needs not only will require more resources, but also will take creative approaches tailored to our specific student populations.

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