Schools and labs need better collaboration on campus mental health

By Staff Writer

Many American universities fail to provide enough mental health services for their students despite the existence of tested solutions, a new study shows.

The gap between research and practice can lead to an increase in students' disruptive and aggressive behavior, anger outbursts, anxiety and suicide. Patients with those conditions may find it difficult to find academic success unless they seek treatment in therapeutic schools.

Researchers have developed proven treatments for many mental health challenges, but some colleges lack the capacity to access or adopt those programs, researchers at the University of Missouri have found.

To clear that barrier, most schools need extra help to match those established "evidence-based practices" to the unique culture and resources of each campus, according to a paper published in the journal Psychology in the Schools.

Before training campus mental health professionals on the latest techniques, psychology experts should do more research on the specific problems at each university. So instead of simply dictating new solutions, researchers can collaborate with schools by asking campus staff what they need from science.

The challenge is pressing, because many schools are fighting to balance the growing mental health needs of their students with increased accountability measures and decreased financial resources.