Animals and Universities

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Recommended: College students perceptions of depressed mood

There is a large increase in the amount of college students who struggle with mental health problems like depression and anxiety. This type of problem can affect the student by not giving them motivation to do well in school, make friends, or even make themselves comfortable enough to seek help for their issues. Jerald Kay, a professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Wright State University School of Medicine, states that within the past 15 years, depression has doubled and suicide has tripled. 75 percent of people with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before they reach the age of 22 (National Institute of Mental Health). Having these types of mental problems so early in life can be very difficult to deal with especially college students who are miles away from the comfort of their home. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is the top mental health problem among college students. Seventy percent of counseling center directors believes that the number of students with severe psychological problems on their campus has increased in the past year. So what can colleges and universities do about this issue? I believe that having animals readily available to students who suffer from these mental problems can really help them cope by decreasing their anxiety levels, stress, and even depression.
Depression is a mental mood disorder that causes an on going feeling of sadness and a loss of interest even in one’s favorite activities. Clinical depression affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variation of emotional and physical problems. Someone who has clinical depression might also have trouble doing normal activities throughout the day and feel as if life isn't worth li...

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..."The College Student Mental Health Crisis." Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. Psychology Today, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. .

Staats, Sara. "College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times." College Students Find Comfort In Their Pets During Hard Times. Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .

Tatrakovsky, Margarita. "Depression and Anxiety Among College Students." Psych Central.com. Psych Central, 2008. Web. 2918 Apr. 2014. .

Weil, Andrew, Dr. "Wellness Therapies." Animal Assisted Therapy. Weil, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .

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