Alpha 
Post by fretslider on Jun 30, 2018 5:08:57 GMT -5
University used to be a place where your mind was expanded and your horizons broadened. You learned to live on your own and to take care of yourself. These days we have a moral panic - another ringing alarm bell...
Universities may be fuelling the mental health crisis, the president of the Royal Society of Medicine has said, with many mistaking loneliness for depression. Sir Simon Wessely, who is regius professor of psychiatry King’s College London, warned that universities must not “over medicalise” the normal emotions of young adults.
He urged universities to stop aimlessly throwing money at mental health initiatives when “very few” have been tested, and some may even be making things worse. “There are things that aren’t disorders at all that students habitually get - exam stress, loneliness and so on - all of which can be problematic,” said Prof Wessely told The Telegraph.
“But we shouldn’t go round automatically saying ‘Oh you have a psychiatric disorder, you need psychiatric or mental health or professional health’."
He said there is an “overwhelming mountain of research” to show that best way to protect against mental health problems is to draw on active social networks. Having a group of friends who you can confide in is a “probably better” for students than seeking professional health as friends “don’t involve the risk of maybe thinking you have a disorder when you don’t”. “Loneliness is a major problem for the current student population,” Prof Wessely said. “There is quite a lot of evidence that says that the solution may not be to see a counsellor, but it may be to join a choir.”
Prof Wessely, who is a former president of Royal College Psychiatrists, said that randomised trials have demonstrated that involvement in an artistic endeavor or community project are an effective way to build resilience.
Rather than spending thousands of pounds on a raft of new mental health projects and initiatives, universities should invest money in researching what is effective.
“My own university, King’s College London, has over 70 different student wellbeing programmes. Not a single one has been evaluated,” he said. “Some will be doing good, a lot of them will probably be doing nothing, and a few will be doing harm.
“In three years’ time you will really wish that you had [done some research] because when you run out of money for all these schemes - which you will - how will you know which are the five support among th 65 that you’ve tried?”
Prof Wessely’s comments come after the universities minister told universities that they risk “failing a generation of students” unless they take action to prevent a looming mental health crisis.
Read more: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/06/29/universities-may-fuelling-mental-health-crisis-leading-psychiatrist/
“But we shouldn’t go round automatically saying ‘Oh you have a psychiatric disorder, you need psychiatric or mental health or professional health’."
But they do...
Over half a million people are preparing to make the transition to student life, now that the new academic year is upon us. Prospective students will be full of excitement, but for many it will also be a testing time. Universities already have plenty of initiatives to support their students in place – but they could be strengthened through a transition strategy that prioritises mental health and wellbeing.
...
...the need for student mental health to be a strategic priority, embedded across all university activities. While the efforts made so far are considerable, mental health and wellbeing services in universities have for too long been seen as an add-on. Students must feel they are supported through the transitions and milestones of university life in a holistic way.
www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/sep/07/its-time-for-universities-to-put-student-mental-health-first
No wonder they're turning out to be snowflakes.
Rather than spending thousands of pounds on a raft of new mental health projects and initiatives, universities should take away their phones.
Universities may be fuelling the mental health crisis, the president of the Royal Society of Medicine has said, with many mistaking loneliness for depression. Sir Simon Wessely, who is regius professor of psychiatry King’s College London, warned that universities must not “over medicalise” the normal emotions of young adults.
He urged universities to stop aimlessly throwing money at mental health initiatives when “very few” have been tested, and some may even be making things worse. “There are things that aren’t disorders at all that students habitually get - exam stress, loneliness and so on - all of which can be problematic,” said Prof Wessely told The Telegraph.
“But we shouldn’t go round automatically saying ‘Oh you have a psychiatric disorder, you need psychiatric or mental health or professional health’."
He said there is an “overwhelming mountain of research” to show that best way to protect against mental health problems is to draw on active social networks. Having a group of friends who you can confide in is a “probably better” for students than seeking professional health as friends “don’t involve the risk of maybe thinking you have a disorder when you don’t”. “Loneliness is a major problem for the current student population,” Prof Wessely said. “There is quite a lot of evidence that says that the solution may not be to see a counsellor, but it may be to join a choir.”
Prof Wessely, who is a former president of Royal College Psychiatrists, said that randomised trials have demonstrated that involvement in an artistic endeavor or community project are an effective way to build resilience.
Rather than spending thousands of pounds on a raft of new mental health projects and initiatives, universities should invest money in researching what is effective.
“My own university, King’s College London, has over 70 different student wellbeing programmes. Not a single one has been evaluated,” he said. “Some will be doing good, a lot of them will probably be doing nothing, and a few will be doing harm.
“In three years’ time you will really wish that you had [done some research] because when you run out of money for all these schemes - which you will - how will you know which are the five support among th 65 that you’ve tried?”
Prof Wessely’s comments come after the universities minister told universities that they risk “failing a generation of students” unless they take action to prevent a looming mental health crisis.
Read more: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/06/29/universities-may-fuelling-mental-health-crisis-leading-psychiatrist/
“But we shouldn’t go round automatically saying ‘Oh you have a psychiatric disorder, you need psychiatric or mental health or professional health’."
But they do...
Over half a million people are preparing to make the transition to student life, now that the new academic year is upon us. Prospective students will be full of excitement, but for many it will also be a testing time. Universities already have plenty of initiatives to support their students in place – but they could be strengthened through a transition strategy that prioritises mental health and wellbeing.
...
...the need for student mental health to be a strategic priority, embedded across all university activities. While the efforts made so far are considerable, mental health and wellbeing services in universities have for too long been seen as an add-on. Students must feel they are supported through the transitions and milestones of university life in a holistic way.
www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2017/sep/07/its-time-for-universities-to-put-student-mental-health-first
No wonder they're turning out to be snowflakes.
Rather than spending thousands of pounds on a raft of new mental health projects and initiatives, universities should take away their phones.
