College of the Overwhelmed: The Campus Mental Health Crisis and What to Do About It

Acknowledgments v

Introduction 1

Part I The Problems: Why Are Some Kids So Unhappy at College? 5

1. Normal Developmental Issues 7

2. Pressure and Competition: Academic, Extracurricular, Parental, Racial, and Cultural 35

3. Financial Worries and Social Fears 65

4. Crisis on Campus: Feeling Hopeless and Helpless 89

Part II The Solution: For Colleges, Parents, and Students 153

5. What Are Colleges Doing About the Crisis? And What More Should Be Done? 155

6. What Can Parents Do? 183

7. For Students Only 213

Appendix A: The 2002 American College Health Association Survey Results 239

Appendix B: Everything You Need to Know About Medications 243

Appendix C: Checklists for Colleges and Counseling Centers 261

Appendix D: Resources 267

Notes 275

About the Authors 285

Index 287