USG hosts discussion on health

Major student health issues including mental health and birth control were discussed last night at the USG Senate meeting, which hosted two representatives from University Health Services (UHS).

University Chief Medical Officer Daniel Silverman and John Kolligian, director of mental health services, updated the USG about McCosh Health Center's services and recent initiatives.

Commenting on the recent controversies over birth control, Silverman explained that the price hikes are the result of a change in national law and emphasized that the University did not have control over the decision. "There was federal legislation that the Bush administration has allowed to lapse, which had allowed universities to get a deep discount," Silverman said.

In light of the changes in national policy, UHS is making an effort to keep prices as low as possible, including increasing its purchases of generic birth control options, Silverman said.

"We're very concerned, and we are doing everything we can," he added. "That includes lobbying senators to change the legislation and trying to go to generics."

Silverman and Kolligian said there are many issues of concern for mental health on Princeton's campus. Substance abuse, binge drinking, eating disorders and depression are the most substantial problems. "The student body of Princeton is very healthy physically, but the major issues are psychological," Silverman said.

Kolligian said "it is pretty clear that the fact that Princeton students are intellectually gifted does not preclude them from dealing with psychological issues," sharing statistics from a recent survey about depression on campus and across the nation. The survey was given to 95,000 students across the country, and statistics were calculated for national means and for Princeton.

According to the survey, almost one-third of Princeton students have sought help from a mental health professional at some point. Kolligian explained that this rate is three times the rate of 10 years ago. "There's been a dramatic shift, and mental health services are very busy these days," he said.

Silverman noted that over 50 percent of Princeton students report getting severely depressed at least once a year. Seven percent of undergraduates seriously contemplate suicide, and 1.5 percent have admitted to having attempted suicide within the last year. Silverman explained that the "chilling statistics" lead to "motivation to start some very innovative programs here."

Among these programs is the Princeton Depression Awareness Program, which trains RCAs, coaches, faculty and administrators to recognize early warning signs of depression, as well as a new initiative that will screen all students with a voluntary nine-question questionnaire. "We can identify students who are struggling but might not have otherwise come to seek care. It's another part of our safety net," Silverman said.

An Advisory Board for Healthier Princeton is also working to improve mental health coverage under the student healthcare plan and hire a new psychiatrist, Silverman added.