Stress, anxiety, depression and suicide: these are at the root of a nationwide mental health crisis among college students, according to popular discourse.
But after nearly 40 years of research, David Jobes, professor of psychology and associate director of clinical training at the Catholic University of America, thinks the claim is unsupported by data.
“Suicide is really the downstream outcome of a lot of upstream issues that are relevant to the students you work with every day from anxiety about the future to academic stress,” Dr. Jobes said. “You may hear about this issue on a national scale, but when you look at the broad strokes, suicide rates are down.”
The expert in the study of suicide—or suicidologist—and director of the CUA Suicide Prevention Lab addressed more than 100 George Washington University faculty and staff Thursday in a presentation on the “State of College Student Mental Health.”
Dr. Jobes will host a student event on Jan. 29.
He highlighted the most recent research on mental health trends among college students and outlined effective treatments and responses during “postvention”—the process of managing the aftermath of a crisis. The event rounded out with questions from the audience.
Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Peter Konwerski introduced Dr. Jobes as a long-time friend of the university and integral part of GW’s efforts to provide comprehensive care to students.
GW recently opened the Colonial Health Center, a combined hub for medical services, health promotion and prevention services and mental health services.
“There is so much happening nationally, and there is so much incredible work happening on this campus, and that work is taking place because of everyone in this room,” Dr. Konwerski said. “This conversation is timely for GW, for higher education and for student affairs.”
Dr. Jobes began the discussion with myth busting. He cited research that shows despite the pervasiveness of anxiety nationwide, a majority of students are not distressed.
“The truth is, most of these students are resilient and are doing well,” he said.
The research of Allan Schwartz, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester, shows that between 1976 and 2009 there was a 25 percent decrease in suicide rates among college students.
“Suicide rates are significantly higher—across the same age range—among young adults who do not attend college,” Dr. Jobes said. “The idea that we have an epidemic is just not true. It’s protective to be in the college environment.”
He said that though the stress of college is often linked with the stress of navigating relationships, defining identity and selecting a vocation, these same stressors often have a positive effect on young adults—especially when linked to aspirations and tangible goals.
Dr. Jobes also shared a method of treatment—the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)—that he and his team developed at CUA. A number of universities have used the CAMS method for years. Last year, he trained GW’s counseling staff and six other college counseling centers to use the program.
The treatment is a more individualized approach than short-term hospitalization and medication, he said. Within six to eight counseling sessions, CAMS reduces suicidal ideation—or thoughts of suicide—and overall symptom distress among student clients, he added.
“This is outpatient care that is really focused on keeping students out of the hospital as much as possible and keeping them connected to their lives,” he said.
Dr. Jobes stressed the importance of a measured response from faculty and staff who are concerned about a student’s behavior.
“Be caring, thoughtful people, then carefully route students to the appropriate resources,” Dr. Jobes said. “If you are not trained to be a counselor, do not act as one, but you can be concerned and active.”
He said that a university’s response to a crisis also is critical to managing wellness on campus.
Dr. Jobes outlined a number of postvention tactics such as releasing information honestly and minimally, providing counseling resources broadly and checking in regularly with the students, faculty and staff who were closest to the victim.
But, he advised, it’s important to remember that universities cannot force someone to get better.
“The best that a campus community can do is make resources available and optimize the conditions for change,” he said.
For more information on mental health resources visit the Colonial Health Center. If you are concerned about a student please fill out the CARE Network form.