MENTAL HEALTH University Doctor Non-Committal

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30715, 2 April 1965, Page 1

MENTAL HEALTH University Doctor Non-Committal

The biggest difficulty in identifying health problems among young people was that all did not offer themselves for medical examination, said Dr. K. E. Ussher, medical director of student health at the University of Canterbury, when invited yesterday to comment on statements this week on mental health of students.

Dr. Ussher said that only half the student roll at the university applied voluntarily for medical examination under the student health scheme, and half of these were freshers.

“Ideally,” said Dr. Ussher, “every student should have an examination on entry, and in their later years at the university we should concentrate on those graded three, those arriving from overseas, and those who have consistently poor academic achievements possibly from health reasons.”

The university could now provide help of many descriptions through its own medical staff, counsellors, liaison officer, chaplains, hostel wardens, physical education officer, visiting psychotherapist, and academic staff. Dr. Ussher said. All these were deeply interested in the welfare of students, and gave the utmost co-operation. Dr. Ussher said he doubted whether mental health problems originated at university. Most that he knew could be traced to home problems and other earlier difficulties. Certainly the pressures of modern student life could aggravate any difficulties. The change from school to university required considerable personal adjustment, living away from home presented new challenges, living on private resources and needing pass marks to retain fees and allowance bursaries, and the mere fact of growing up in an increasingly competitive world often caused anxiety.

Dr. Ussher said it was desirable that all university students should get to know their own health service and feel free to seek advice on any problem. If all would volunteer for an initial check, early warnings could be given. If health record cards could be produced, this would help also.

No estimate of the extent of mental health problems among students in Canterbury, or of general health, for that matter, could be given unless all were examined, Dr. Ussher said. Many who applied for examination were fit in all respects. Those who did not might not be fit.