Mental Health and Academic Success in College
Mental health problems represent a potentially important but relatively unexplored factor in explaining human capital accumulation during college. We conduct the first study, to our knowledge, of how mental health predicts academic success during college in a random longitudinal sample of students. We find that depression is a significant predictor of lower GPA and higher probability of dropping out, particularly among students who also have a positive screen for an anxiety disorder. In within-person estimates using our longitudinal sample, we find again that co-occurring depression and anxiety are associated with lower GPA, and we find that symptoms of eating disorders are also associated with lower GPA. This descriptive study suggests potentially large economic returns from programs to prevent and treat mental health problems among college students, and highlights the policy relevance of evaluating the impact of such programs on academic outcomes using randomized trials.
Abstract This essay represents an art therapy case study with a young refugee woman called Hanna, which took place at a day centre in an NHS trust. In particular, I focus on the client's loss of home and her nostalgic feeling – an experience particular to refugees. This essay is an exploration of meanings and the client's feelings of nostalgia, separation and loss, abandonment, guilt and shame, helplessness and anger, together with good childhood memories, tradition and religious belief which are expressed in her images through symbols. I also explore the importance of the provision and the effectiveness of art therapy and how a therapeutic relationship created a container that supported this client to build strength and resilience to cope with her difficult situation. Reference will be made to the importance of good early attachment and how this helps to build resilience in individuals recovering from trauma.