Anxiety and depression among college students have become a growing problem. Students often come with these diagnoses.‘Emotional support animals’ are viewed by many as being important in assisting students with these issues as well as various disabilities.

    There is significant support for recognizing the therapeutic value of animals. The Fair Housing Act protects students with disabilities. The issue of requiring universities to allow such animals in student housing is somewhat of an open question. But universities do recognize the importance of such animals especially during exam times.

     Universities need to examine more the issue of dogs and cats in university housing as a means of addressing the mental health issues of their students.

“Dogs, Stress and College Life,” (Oct. 5, 2015)

    Resident advisers in universities are part of the front line addressing the issue of sex on campus.

    But other services are certainly needed especially for students not living on campus and for faculty. These include the use by the entire university community of on-campus counseling as well as use of off-campus services in the community. 

     These services are generally very extensive with a good track record. It’s good that this general issue of campus sex is now being openly debated and universities are becoming more aggressive about recognizing and addressing it.

     Coordinating with those professionals in private practice and other state and county agencies is a good idea. Leveraging all resources make good economic and social sense for a complicated and serious problem.

“On the Campus Front Line.” “New York Times (Sept. 27, 2015).

     Mental health services offered by universities are experiencing a growing demand. This demand  involves both college-related issues but also the whole spectrum of mental health issues. Both men and women are demanding more services. There is some evidence that men are a bit hesitant requesting those services. But that is changing.

     Services are being requested at all levels from the new student to the military veteran and at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. More support is needed at most universities especially the public universities.

“College Mental Health Services are in Demand.” Wall Street Journal (Sept. 22, 2015)

A recent article (based upon earlier studies) describes what the probability is for reconciling a couple’s relationship after an affair. It determines the probabilities differ according to how the affair is discovered. This is very interesting. Is it revealed by a third party? By an admission? By catching them actually together? Not surprising the lowest probability is if the affair is discovered by them actually being together.

 “The Post-Affair Conversation.” Wall Street Journal (Sept. 9, 2015)

     This is a good article discussing a 10-point checklist of items new students need to understand, in part, concerning health services provided by their universities. 

     One important observation that I would make is the ever-increasing importance of mental health counseling. 

     Universities are now trying to respond to the growing demand for accepting responsibility of the mental well-being of their students. Many universities have made good progress especially in focusing on issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, sexuality, and relationships.

     The availability of mental health counseling is crucial for all students to know about. These issues are in addition to the host of traditional academic ones that universities have traditionally attempted to address.

     Students really need to acquaint themselves with the mental health services and counseling provided by the university. But they need also to know the broad range of facilities that are made available by local authorities, such as counties, towns and religious organizations. This is in addition to the wealth of services available by private practitioners.

• “Colleges, Students and Mental Health.” Washington Post (August 25, 2015).

A recent study finds when there is income inequality between spouses there is more cheating. My reaction is how is this? Hasn’t there always been such inequality in marriages until recently? Has recent data proved things have gotten worse or are they really any different? Don’t really think so. But we need better studies. My take is that lack of communications between spouses has always been the real key in explaining marital infidelity. Not income inequality even though such inequality is a trendy topic today. 

“If Spouses Earnings are Vastly Different, Cheating is more likely.” Washington Post (June 5, 2015).