An increasing number of college students across the country are suffering from mental health problems. As more students seek mental health care, counseling services on college campuses have become more important to having healthy student bodies.

Stress is not only a mental health issue in itself, but is also thought to be an important factor that directly influences other problems such as depression and anxiety. Experts believe that for the average college student, the leading causes of stress include academics, parents, human relationships, and unhealthy diet. These factors can lead to a variety of mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders, which, not coincidentally, are the several of the more prominent health issues at Dartmouth. In recent years, mental health has earned its position on the platform of major “college student issues,” along with substance abuse and sex-related issues.

A national survey conducted in 2005 shows that 9% of all college students sought counseling in 2004. At Dartmouth, though, approximately 20% of students seek assistance for mental health problems every year. On average, only 8.8% of college students at schools with a student body of 2,500 to 7,500 did the same. Mental health disorders are not a distinct Dartmouth issue,yet Dartmouth students, according to statistics, are over twice as likely to seek help. Several factors contributing to the problem at Dartmouth, such as crappy weather and disruptions in relationships caused by the D-Plan, are, without a doubt, unique to this school. These factors, if significant, could point to why the incidences of mental health disorders at Dartmouth are so much more prevalent than at other colleges.

Numerous Dartmouth students complain that winter term, in a word, sucks. Most people who hold this belief attribute their lack of enthusiasm, at least in part, to the “shitty weather.” Surprisingly, though, the murderous temperature is not actually the shittiest part of winter term’s suck-factor. That fine distinction belongs to the sun. Or rather, the lack thereof. The aptly-named Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be playing a role in influencing the occurrences of mental health problems. Dartmouth students may therefore be more vulnerable to mental health issues than college kids at equally competitive schools in sunnier places.

Additionally, the D-plan is the ultimate double-edged sword. It provides flexibility, but at the expense of students’ personal lives. Moving in and out frequently, Dartmouth students must adjust to new rooms and new roommates more often than the average college student. Depending on a student’s D-plan, many of his friends may be off campus when he is on. Befriending new people can be a stressful business, even for those with the most sociable personalities. Hanging out with a new group inevitably forces people to step out of their comfort zones. This situation inevitably creates an entire campus of uncomfortable, and thus, unhappy campers.

On the other side of the sword, many students spend five to six terms in a row on campus. Having no off-terms for such a long time can cause new stress to build up before the stress from previous terms have disappeared. Taking six on-campus terms in a row is referred to as the “suicide six” for a reason. Ten-week terms are so short that midterms begin three weeks into the term. Students can never settle down, neither in their living environments, nor in their academics. The concept of only taking three classes per term is deceptive. Dartmouth students are continuously flooded with work because there is so much material to cover in so little time.

A recent survey concluded that 85% of college students nationwide feel stress at times. However, Dartmouth students face unique problems that could cause our lives to become slightly more stressful than those of the average college student. Stress is detrimental to mental health not only in and of itself, but because it can trigger or influence serious disorders, such as depression.

Realistically, schools can do very little for students’ mental health, other than to provide assistance and to raise awareness. What we must not forget is that college life is stressful. There is no escaping this fact, wherever you go to school, and a sense of perspective is usually the best cure. Or the second-best: “Cancel all my midterms and finals,” said a close friend, “that should really help my mental health.”