California community colleges awarded nearly $7 million to help students cope with stress, anxiety, and depression
Los Angeles Times
October 13, 2011
California community colleges have been awarded nearly $7 million to help students cope with stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
The grant from the California Mental Health Services Authority will be used to help train faculty and staff in the state's 112 community colleges to better respond to students who exhibit signs of mental distress.
About $1 million of the grant will be awarded competitively to 12 colleges to develop campus-based projects.
"Our most recent data shows that stress, anxiety and depression are among the top factors that affect student academic performance," California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said in a statement.
A 2010 survey of community college students found that 50% reported feeling very sad, very lonely and hopeless and more than a third said it was difficult to function because they were so depressed, Scott said.
