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Record numbers of First State college students visit campus counselor this year

Delaware Public Media

First State colleges have seen an uptick in the number of students visiting campus counseling centers this past year.

More college students are paying a visit to the counseling office at both the University of Delaware and Delaware State University.

 

“We all get stressed – it’s an everyday part of life," said Delaware State Counseling Director Ralph Robinson. "But some of our students are not sure how to manage it.”

 

Robinson says not only are more anxious students than ever coming to the center for help – but the complexity and severity of those anxieties are also increasing, with more first-generation college attendees and students in debt or with parents out of work.

 

University of Delaware counseling director Charles Beale says they've has been seeing a similar trend. Over 10% of their student body paid a visit to the counseling center last year, a big jump from the previous year.

 

“From 9.5 to 10.1 might not seem like a significant increase, but it is - just in sheer numbers," Beale said.

 

There’s also been a 17% increase in UD students booking emergency appointments.

 

Both universities are ramping up efforts to address the growing trend, encouraging students to visit the center even if they don’t have an appointment.

 

UD has designated a counselor of the day to handle emergency appointments. But Beale says the upward trend isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

 

“In many ways it’s a good thing that more and more students are coming in, they’re seeking help," Beale said. "Our challenge is to be able to respond in an appropriate fashion given our resources.”

 
Delaware State attributes its increase in part to an anti-stigma effort, with a student-run program working to spread the word about mental health accessibility. They also launched a suicide prevention campaign this last year.

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