The Challenge of Mental Health Crises in College Settings

The reevaluation of the place of college mental health on campus has been driven in part by tragic, widely publicized campus shootings as well as several high pro!le lawsuits which have fueled anxiety in parents, students, clinicians, and administrators. A growing body of research supports the observation that neuronal development continues into the mid-twenties as impulse control, judgment, and problem solving skills continue to develop into young adulthood. This leaves the college community in the challenging position of maintaining a campus environment that is conducive to age appropriate exploration without undue danger to students. There is ongoing confusion and debate about who assumes the risks associated with college life.1 A useful approach in speci!c cases involves thoughtful collaboration between the university mental health service, administrative deans, students, and their parents to !nd solutions that provide appropriate mental health care to an individual student while not threatening the primary educational mission of the university.