The university life is a transitional period from high school to college and from

being adolescent to being an adult. The new environment demands abandoning

the old social network and exerting a great effort to seek and build a new close
and social relationship with others, which may lead to the experience of
loneliness

Mental health providers within the college environment must continue to

think out of the box for unique and creative ways to meet the growing mental
health needs of the college population. Growing rates of stress and anxiety
among college students and a greater number of students having more
severe mental illnesses are trends that are not likely to reverse. Whats more,
since traditional counseling services appear to reach only about a fourth of
these students, colleges and universities remain vulnerable to student drop
outs, academic and behavior problems, and suicidal/homicidal behaviors.

Mental health problems among the college population continue to increase in

terms of frequency and severity. At the same time, the number of high school
graduates who enrol in institutes of higher learning is also increasing making
the college years an ideal opportunity to address existing and emerging
mental and psychological challenges. Traditional counselling center services-while shown to be effective--are not appropriate for all students and are too
resource intensive to meet the full need of the college population. Creative
strategies are necessary to address the growing need for mental health
services among college and university students that are resource efficient,
can reach a broader range of students by overcoming barriers to treatment,
can effectively address current mental health concerns, and that effectively
prepare students for the mental and emotional challenges they will face in
todays world. Available research supports the application of several
psychoeducational approaches to the treatment of common mental health
concerns as well as in the development of resiliency for the protection
against future challenges. This research provides a potential solution to the
growing need for mental health services by combining proven
psychoeducational approaches under the umbrella of effective stress
management. This module integrates physiological and psychological
understandings of stress and stress management with evidence-based skills
including relaxation techniques, problem-solving, mindfulness, cognitive
restructuring, and assertiveness shown to be effective not only in the
treatment of stress but also in the treatment of common mental illnesses
such as anxiety and depression. Further, this module encompasses a set of
skills consistent with the positive psychology literature on the development of
resilience. An instructors guide, course slides, course syllabus, and
recommendations for readings, homework, and practices are provided and
organized into separate modules to facilitate adaptation to various formats.

What is missing from many university based mental health centers is a

resource-effective approach to not only treating existing mental disorders but
providing students with a strong foundation for maintaining positive mental
health through the stress and challenges of college as well as post-college life
demands. At the same time, approaches are needed that can overcome
barriers to utilization of mental health services so that more students can
benefit from learning positive mental health strategies. Current rationing of
care remains an issue that needs innovative and creative solutions to
overcome. It is high time that academic institutions recognize the importance
of developing good mental and emotional health alongside the accumulation
of knowledge and occupational skills.
The purpose of this project is to look at student mental health needs and
develop innovative, psychoeducationally-based strategies for delivering
mental health services to a greater number of students with the aim of not
only providing effective interventions but also developing positive mental
health attitudes and skills. These strategies will aim to not only deliver
services in a wide group format but also to reach students who would not
otherwise come in contact with mental health services due to reasons such
as stigma or cultural barriers, and provide these students with coping skills,
self-help strategies, and information that may serve to ameliorate their
psychological symptoms or reduce their barriers to help-seeking. Of course
students with more severe disorders and conditions will still require the care
and risk management approach of individual therapy and may not be
appropriate for this venue.

The need is clear for effective mental health treatments to address the growing
concern of mental health issues among college students within the constraints of
college and university budgets. Creative strategies are needed to reach a
broader range of students whose goals and possibilities are being limited due to
their mental health issues. Students who are not treated in college are not
only less likely to succeed academically but represent a missed opportunity
to lessen the public health impact of mental health disorders.

What is missing from many university based mental health centers is a

resource-effective approach to not only treating existing mental disorders but
providing students with a strong foundation for maintaining positive mental
health through the stress and challenges of college as well as post-college life
demands. At the same time, approaches are needed that can overcome
barriers to utilization of mental health services so that more students can
benefit from learning positive mental health strategies. Current rationing of
care remains an issue that needs innovative and creative solutions to
overcome. It is high time that academic institutions recognize the importance
of developing good mental and emotional health alongside the accumulation
of knowledge and occupational skills.