The life of a college student can be stressful. To balance classwork, maintain a social life and, keep a job is especially challenging for many students.

To curb this issue, universities across the United States, including WKU, have counseling centers. These centers provide services that assist college students with the challenges they face.

Betsy Pierce, outreach coordinator of WKU’s Counseling and Testing Center, said individual counseling for WKU students is available.

“We work with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including mood and personality disorders,” Pierce said in an email. 

Pierce said the CTC provides services that deal directly with LGBTQ students as well as sexual assault survivors. Pierce also said the CTC provides psychoeducational presentations for classes that are given upon request.

According to a 2013 report by the American College Health Association, 57% of college-age women and 40% of college-age men reported experiencing “overwhelming anxiety.” 

Moreover, a 2018 study by the World Health Organization found that one in three college students reported symptoms that were consistent with at least one mental health issue. 

“One of the biggest challenges for students that affects mental health is the overall adjustment to the world of college and the enormous demands of this academic environment,” Pierce said. “If a student already struggles with a mental health issue, anxiety or depression for example, then college stress is compounded.”

While the CTC has been open, the staff regularly sees students that not only suffer from just one mental health issue but also from a combination of issues, Pierce said.

Pierce said the CTC has not seen much of a change in the number of students that visit the center.

“However, we are pleased that the stigma of seeking help for mental health is slowly dissipating,” Pierce said. 

The CTC is located in Potter Hall 409 and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Reporter Jack Dobbs can be reached at 270-745-0655 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @jackrdobbs.