Sports Editor
Gone are the days when college students worries only involved mid-terms or finding enough change in the bottom of their pockets to pay for books. Now we have to worry about stray bullets.
We are all lulled into a false sense of security as we walk through the hallways we could never imagine being covered in blood.
The horrific images were hard to handle as we watched the scenes unravel at Virginia Tech and more recently Northern Illinois University.
While we might never truly understand the thought process behind these cold-hearted killers, the growing demands of college can certainly be a cause of concern.
"Balancing multiple demands and stressors has an effect on the way people are able to cope," Dr. Kenneth Jackson, the director of counseling at PUC says. "The violent acts that occurred at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois are low in terms of incidents, but are so tragic that it breaks through the shield."
Jackson said we all have mental concerns but mental illness affects only 10 percent of the population. "In the last 15 years - psychotropic medications have made great advances in treating mental health issues that majority of Americans experience," Jackson said.
While the two gunmen stopped taking their medications, a person to turn to for console would have helped.
"If you are seeing distressing behaviors - talk with the person, whether it be a friend, colleague or professor," Jackson says. "Establish a good relationship and let them know that you are concerned and make the appropriate referrals if needed."
College students attending counseling centers last year increased 36 percent. PUC offers good and qualified counseling free of charge, something that won't take place in the workforce after school.
"We assist students to remain in school and address crisis - really hiccups and speed bumps - but if you hit a speed bump and you don't know it's there, you can wreck the car," Jackson said.
Jackson cautions against profiling students that are eccentric or have unusual interests. "That's not an indicator, that's who they are," he said.
Picking up your book bag and heading to school shouldn't ever be something that is frightening, yet it can be now.
We are all lulled into a false sense of security as we walk through the hallways we could never imagine being covered in blood.
The horrific images were hard to handle as we watched the scenes unravel at Virginia Tech and more recently Northern Illinois University.
While we might never truly understand the thought process behind these cold-hearted killers, the growing demands of college can certainly be a cause of concern.
"Balancing multiple demands and stressors has an effect on the way people are able to cope," Dr. Kenneth Jackson, the director of counseling at PUC says. "The violent acts that occurred at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois are low in terms of incidents, but are so tragic that it breaks through the shield."
Jackson said we all have mental concerns but mental illness affects only 10 percent of the population. "In the last 15 years - psychotropic medications have made great advances in treating mental health issues that majority of Americans experience," Jackson said.
While the two gunmen stopped taking their medications, a person to turn to for console would have helped.
"If you are seeing distressing behaviors - talk with the person, whether it be a friend, colleague or professor," Jackson says. "Establish a good relationship and let them know that you are concerned and make the appropriate referrals if needed."
College students attending counseling centers last year increased 36 percent. PUC offers good and qualified counseling free of charge, something that won't take place in the workforce after school.
"We assist students to remain in school and address crisis - really hiccups and speed bumps - but if you hit a speed bump and you don't know it's there, you can wreck the car," Jackson said.
Jackson cautions against profiling students that are eccentric or have unusual interests. "That's not an indicator, that's who they are," he said.
Picking up your book bag and heading to school shouldn't ever be something that is frightening, yet it can be now.
Published in the PUC Chronicle on Feb. 25, 2008
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