Students — ‘wonderful lot of people’

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 21

Students — ‘wonderful lot of people’

By

ASHLEY CAMPBELL

After more than 20 years of treating their ailments, Dr Ken Ussher is pretty impressed with university students. “Certainly there are some, the fringe group, who are really way out ... one can’t understand why they should carry on like that. "But a very large majority of students are very proud young folk, who are hard-working and conscientious. They are really a wonderful lot of people.”

Dr Ussher retires this month from his job as medical director of the University of Canterbury’s Student Health and Counselling Service. In 1964, when he joined the service, he did have some adjusting to do.

"It was a bit of a shock to the system. I was fairly square and traditional, I suppose. In the’ late 19605, one had to change one’s attitudes and adopt more liberal views. Otherwise, I don’t think one could have worked in student health.” The main shock was a result of having spent the previous nine years in the army — then an almost exclusively male domain — and changing over to the University at the beginning of the “sexual revolution.” Dr Ussher had to learn to be non-judgmental — to resist the temptation to impose his own values on his patients. “I don’t think it was too difficult, but one felt a little concerned about whether one was doing the right thing by being liberal in one’s outlook.”

The problems Dr Ussher’s patients have sought help for are

the problems found in any group of young people — contraception, emotional and psychological, and many physical ailments of varying severity. Contrary to popular opinion, venereal disease and drugs have not been major problems among students, Dr Ussher says. “I don’t think there’s much hard drug usage at university. There may be a few people, but they wouldn’t last very long if they were mainlining.” University study requires too much hard work and concentration

Marijuana is another story. He suspects a significant number of university students are either regular smokers, or have experimented at some stage. Once again, this is very much a function of their age. “It’s just a thing that the young do — partly as a means of rebellion.”

His experience with young marijuana users has led him to believe that the drug is not as harmless as many people think. “Some become psychotic because of this.” “Bad trips” had led several people to become clients of the counselling side of the service. Alcohol is another serious problem at the university, he adds — again because of the age of most students. The problem is with alcohol abuse, not alcoholism. “A lot of people drink far too much, but only five per cent of people who are heavy drinkers become alcoholics.” Most students are very responsible about their health, Dr Ussher says. A lot of his time has

been spent discussing preventative care with individuals or groups.

“We try to encourage people to take responsibility for their own health, in terms of exercising and keeping themselves physically fit, not smoking, and good nutrition. A lot of students practise relaxation techniques of one sort or another.

“There are very few psychotropic drugs (tranquilisers, sleeping tablets) prescribed. Sometimes they have to be used for limited periods, but we try to encourage people to get involved in relaxation techniques. The counsellors do a lot in this area.” When Dr Ussher became the medical director of what was then Student Health Services in 1964, it had a staff of one. Now it has the equivalent of three-and-a-half full-time doctors, three full-time counsellors, the equivalent of one-and-a-half nurses, a receptionist, a secretary, a parttime physiotherapist, and a consultant dietician.

Students can take advantage of the service by taking out a $33 a year insurance scheme — then all visits are free. “They probably realise they are on a good wicket.”

Most of the 3500 students who use the service regularly are from out of town, although it has been available to all university students for several years. After working with young people for so long, Dr Ussher has some very strong opinions on some subjects — such as the placing of condom vending

machines on campus. Several years ago, amid great controversy, the students’ association placed some machines in the student’ union building toilets. They have since gone. Dr Ussher thinks they should return.

“This should be seriously considered. A.I.D.S. is a very real problem. We are lucky that New Zealand has not really been hit by the epidemic at this stage. I imagine the university population is a high-risk area — a lot of students do travel overseas.” Preventative care and health education is another area hefeels strongly about, especially when it comes to contraception and venereal disease.

Several years ago, Dr Ussher says, visiting speakers on these subjects could fill a lecture theatre. Nowadays, few students bother to turn up to hear what they have to say. “People get a lot more of this at school,” he says. “They think they know it all, but I don’t think they do. They are much better informed than they used to be, but I’m sure they are not well enough informed. We still get too many unwanted pregnancies.” While there are only 10 or 12 such pregnancies a year, any number is too many, he says. Dr Ussher has enjoyed his years working with young adults, and says it has had some spinoffs for him. “It’s been very satisfying working with a young, intelligent, articulate section of the population. I think it’s kept me young — in outlook, at least”