The trend of increased demand for counseling services at U.S. and Canadian
colleges and universities continues, as evidenced by the 2008 National Survey
of Counseling Center Directors. Almost 60% of counseling center directors
report that there is a growing demand for services with no increase in
resources. Additionally, nearly all the directors surveyed (95%) reported that
more students are coming to the center with severe mental health problems,
putting pressure on counselors to manage an increasingly complex case load.
This data was gathered through the National Survey of Counseling Center
Directors, which has been conducted since 1981. It began as a project of the
Urban Task Force of the Association of University College Counseling Center
Directors, and is now a joint endeavor of the University of Pittsburgh, the
American College Counseling Association, and the International Association of
Counseling Services. The survey aims to stay abreast of current trends at
counseling centers and to provide directors with ready access to the opinions
and solutions of colleagues in the face of challenges in the field. The 2008
survey includes data provided by administrative directors from 284 counseling
centers across the U.S. and Canada.
This year’s survey results indicate that between the increase in the number of
students with serious psychological problems seeking counseling services on
campus and the concern generated by the Virginia Tech tragedy in 2007, the
profile of counseling centers has been raised on many campuses. The majority
(81%) of the directors report a significant increase in calls from faculty and
others concerned about students. Some report an increase in requests from
residence halls to consult about students of concern. Many directors (37%)
report that more parents are calling to inquire about the services offered by
the counseling center and some report that they are receiving an increased
number of inquiries from the general (26%) and student media (45%).
With the increased focus on campus counseling services, directors report that
their centers continue to reach out. Nearly a third of enrolled students at the
schools surveyed were seen by counseling center staff in some context, whether
it be through workshops, classroom presentations or orientation during 2008.
Nearly half the centers participated in depression screening days, with 33% of
students screened being referred for counseling. Almost fifty percent of the
centers increased their counseling center staff and their referral networks,
with nearly a third increasing their psychiatric consultation hours. Over half
of the directors surveyed said they increased training for staff in working
with difficult cases, and some directors (22%) increased training for
time-limited therapy in order to help their staff cope with the increased
demand for services.
However, many directors say that more resources are needed in order to meet the
needs of the students. ] Almost 75% of directors said that more psychiatric
hours were needed as over 25% of center’s clients are taking psychiatric
medication and 16% of the clients are referred for psychiatric evaluation. Over
half of the directors reported that they were experiencing staff burnout
problems and shortages during peak periods. With more students with severe
psychological problems on campus, 62% of directors report that they had to
decrease their focus on students with normal developmental concerns in order to
manage the demands of a more complex caseload. More outreach is needed for
students who are considering suicide. The survey reports that there were 118
student suicides among the schools surveyed during 2008. With only 13.6% of
these students being current or former counseling center clients, it seems that
more outreach and prevention activities are needed so students who are feeling
depressed or suicidal know where to turn for assistance, so that counseling
center staff can be aware of these struggling students.
The National Survey of Counseling Center Directors has highlighted some of the
changes counseling centers have experienced as awareness of mental health
issues has grown. More students are accessing services and the students
accessing services often have more complex concerns than in the past. In light
of these changes it is important to continue to support the work of campus
counseling centers. Over half of counseling center clients report that
counseling has helped them remain enrolled at their institution and has helped
with their academic performance. This is important since most students seeking
counseling do not identify these issues as primary concerns. It is apparent
from the survey results that counseling centers are helping colleges and
universities fulfill their mission in providing education and that they serve a
vital role in the campus community. To view the full report of the survey
results please click
here.