IU mental health facilities need support
There are 46,416 students that attend IU. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 25 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition within the past year. At IU, there are a total of 20 professionals working for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the service recommended for students that are experiencing signs of a mental illness. Out of those 20 individuals, there are 17 therapists and three psychiatrists. If the CAPS professional faculty equally delegated 25 percent of IU’s student population, each professional would be responsible for helping 580 students that are affected by mental health. That is like being a professor of a class of 580 students. That is absurd. The lack of funding and help for individuals in need of a mental health program at IU isn’t something that’s well known or even talked about on campus. Over the past few years attending IU, I’ve slowly realized that these services are much needed and should be more attainable on campus. College is a pivotal time in our lives.