Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 19)

campuses. The program has funded a broad range of prevention, education and outreach services, ranging from effective multifaceted and culturally responsive suicide prevention systems to education campaigns to raise awareness about suicide and mental and behavioral health risks. Yet despite these significant achievements, these programs have only tackled part of the problem facing college counseling centers. APA continues to advocate for the Campus Suicide Prevention program to have the flexibility to provide mental and behavioral health services for students and to hire appropriately trained staff, particularly in light of students’ growing need for services. College counseling centers are frequently forced to devise creative ways to manage their growing caseloads. For example, 76.6 percent of college counseling directors reported that they had to reduce the number of visits for non-crisis patients to cope with the increasing overall number of clients. Research clearly shows just how much strong mental and behavioral health supports can improve student life. Without the proper psychological services, students with emotional and behavioral problems have the potential to affect many other people on campus, including roommates, classmates, faculty and staff with disruptive and even dangerous behavior. However, when students receive help for their psychological problems, counseling can have a positive impact on academic success, retention and personal wellbeing. The NSCCD survey found that 59 percent of clients indicated that counseling had helped them remain in school, and 60 percent stated that counseling had helped improve their academic performance. Moreover, with more than 65 percent of high school students attending postsecondary education institutions, these counseling centers help millions of young people. Encouraged by the strong and ongoing support of APA and other groups, members of Congress have renewed their commitment to students’ growing mental health needs. On April 6, Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention program that will allow for more flexibility in the authorized uses of funds to enable grantees to best meet the mental health needs that exist on their campuses. For example, it maintains a strong focus on prevention, outreach and education while allowing for the provision of mental health services to students and the hiring of appropriately trained staff. We encourage you to get involved and join us in these efforts by contacting your senators to urge them to cosponsor S. 740. For more information, see our A study found that 24.3 percent of college counseling center directors have noticed an increased number of clients with eating disorders, 39.4 percent have noted an increased number of clients suffering from self-injury issues and 45.7 percent have reported an increased number of clients struggling with alcohol abuse. Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2011 (S. 740). This legislation acknowledges the progress made since the 2004 passage of the original Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, as well as the work that remains to be done, by modestly increasing the authorization levels for the Campus and Youth/ Tribal Suicide Prevention programs. The reauthorization includes APA’s requested changes to the Campus “Action Alert” at http://capwiz.com/ apapolicy/issues/alert/?alertid=50827906 or contact Jennifer Smulson, senior legislative and federal affairs officer, in the APA Education Directorate’s Government Relations Office at jsmulson@apa.org. n Arielle Eiser is the legislative assistant in the APA Education Directorate’s Government Relations Office. 19 septeMber 2011 • Monitor on psychology http://capwiz.com/apapolicy/issues/alert/?alertid=50827906 http://capwiz.com/apapolicy/issues/alert/?alertid=50827906

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011