Sample 1

Annotated Bibliography
"College Students Exhibiting More Severe Mental Illness, Study Finds." American
Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, 12 Aug. 2010.
Web. 27 May 2016. <http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/08/studentsmental-illness.aspx>.
The article begins by stating that the demand for mental health services for college
students has increased in the past decade. According to a study, more than 3,000
college students who accessed counseling services between 1997 and 2009 at a midsize private university were screened for mental disorders and suicide ideation.
Studies from the university had shown that while the number of mild cases of mental
health problems has remained fairly constant, the number of moderate and severe
cases has increased. The article suggests that one of the causes of the increase in
moderate and severe cases is the increased number of students entering college with
pre-existing mental health problems.
Eiser, Arielle. "The Crisis on Campus." American Psychological Association. American
Psychological Association, Sept. 2011. Web. 26 May 2016.
<http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/09/crisis-campus.aspx>.
In her article, Eiser examines evidence that supports the increase in number of college
students seeking help for mental health problems at college counseling centers.
Reports have indicated that the most common mental disorders include depression,
anxiety, and suicide ideation. According to Eiser, in 2004, Congress passed the Garrett
Lee Smith Memorial Act, a law which led to the establishment of three programs to
address the growing mental health needs of college students and other young people.
Eiser adds that the American Psychology Association (APA) has played a significant
role in developing prevention, education, and outreach services. Despite the positive

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outcomes, Eiser argues that these programs commenced by the APA have substantial
limitations. One of these limitations includes a lack of well-trained staff amidst a
growing demand for services. Finally, Eiser asserts that without proper treatment,
students with mental health problems can possibly do more harm to themselves and
the surrounding community.
Faculty Advisory Council, and Student Advisory Committee. "College Student Mental
Health - A Crisis Underway." Illinois Board of Higher Education (2007): n. pag.
Illinois Board of Higher Education. Illinois Board of Higher Education, Sept.
2007. Web. 27 May 2016. <http://www.ibhefac.org/Documents/facmental07.pdf>.
The Faculty Advisory Council (FAC) and Student Advisory Committee (SAC) in
Illinois describe the extent to which the percentage of college students with a mental
disorder has increased, using data from 1998 to 2006. In addition, the article discusses
several possible factors that have contributed to the growing number of students
seeking counseling services, including the pressure to perform well and the stress
associated with the increasing cost of higher education. Furthermore, the FAC and
SAC acknowledge the limitations that faculty, colleges, and the state face in
addressing the causal factors of the increased rate of mental disorders. In response to
the limitations, the FAC and SAC provide a variety of possible solutions for the
Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and legislature to consider. Some
suggestions include providing additional resources to counseling centers, as well as
improving future students academic preparedness before entering college.
Henriques, Gregg. "The College Student Mental Health Crisis." Psychology Today.

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Theory of Knowledge, 15 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 May 2016.
<https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge/201402/the-collegestudent-mental-health-crisis>.
Henriques uses findings and statistics from the Association for University and College
Counseling Center Directors survey and the American Freshman annual survey, and
analyzes them in order to confirm the growing number of college students with
mental health problems. Additionally, the article examines evidence that suicide rates
have increased, since suicide is one of the most dangerous aspects of mental health
concerns. Henriques explains that the increase in mental health problems are strongly
associated with sleep deprivation and other maladaptive lifestyle habits.
Scelfo, Julie. "Suicide on Campus and the Pressure of Perfection." The New York Times.
The New York Times, 27 July 2015. Web. 27 May 2016.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/stress-social-media-andsuicide-on-campus.html>.
This article published in the New York Times begins by conveying the tragic story of
Kathryn DeWitt, an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, and
describing the events that led up to her decision to commit suicide. Cases of anxiety
and depression have increased, according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health
at Penn State. Scelfo emphasizes that the mentality of concealing ones struggles and
stress by putting a positive front is prevalent among students at the University of
Pennsylvania. Moreover, Scelfo stresses that the student culture at the university has
(unconsciously) fostered the idea that anything but an A letter grade is considered not
only a failure in a specific class, but also labels the student him/herself as a failure.
One of the leading contributors to this culture of hyper-achievement is the influence
of social media. This creates an environment in which students are prone to constantly

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compare themselves with their peers. Another leading cause is the involvement and
expectations of parents. According to Scelfo, parents nowadays have higher
expectations for their children, and are more involved in their academic careers.
Scelfo also explains that students at elite colleges are hesitant to seek help, because in
the case that they need time off from school for mental health reasons, readmittance is
not always guaranteed.
White, Marney A. "To Prevent Suicide in College, Make Mental Health Screening
Mandatory." The Washington Post. The Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2015. Web. 27
May 2016. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/gradepoint/wp/2015/12/21/to-prevent-suicide-in-college-make-mental-healthscreening-mandatory/>.
The presence of unique stressors, such as being away from home and developing poor
lifestyle habits, makes college a vulnerable time for the development of mental
disorders. In her article, White claims that students at Yale University believe that the
campus mental health system is faulty. White further explains that the main problem
that college and university counseling centers have is insufficient resources to provide
effective, affordable, and urgent treatment. Additionally, White asserts that
universities must establish screening and early intervention programs, because they
have been effective in treating students with a number of health problems, such as
eating disorders. In order to address the issue of a lack of resources at counseling
centers, White proposes that universities establish online treatment for mental
disorders, such as depression and anxiety. She also argues that because early
intervention prevents the onset of more serious health problems and decreases the
likelihood of stigmatization, universities must also make screenings and health
workshops mandatory.

Sample 1