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UPenn Tragedy Highlights Depression, Mental Health Issues Facing Universities
> 10/12/2005 3:00:13 PM

Only two days after scoring two touchdowns in a commanding Quaker victory over Bucknell, University of Pennsylvania running back Kyle Ambrogi tragically took his own life, ending his personal struggle with depression.�

And while Kyle's battle strikes a strong chord, his story is not unique.� A recent University of Pittsburgh report found that 85% of colleges had experienced an increase in students with severe psychological problems over the last five years.� Of those, 30% reported suicides within the last year.� The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that between 2000 and 2001 incidence of freshmen depression nearly doubled from 8.2% to 16.3%.

Depression and other psychological problems are becoming increasingly difficult for colleges and universities to handle as student psychological services are often understaffed or underfunded.� Students face new stresses and too often are unprepared to face them when they find themselves on their own for the first time.�

Kyle Ambrogi was one student athlete, but there are others out there, struggling in silence because they don't know where or how to get help. The onus falls on the colleges and universities to find a solution.

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