Homework, sex, paying rent — college students have more than enough on their plates. For those students who came directly after high school, college can be the first taste of the “real world.” But it can be intimidating when a person has to deal with classes, a job and a personal life simultaneously.

Being fully immersed in a high-stress environment on which it seems your whole future rides can be too much to deal with. As a result, college students are among the groups with the highest percentage of mental health issues.

As awareness and social acceptance of mental health issues have grown, alarming numbers have been revealed. The American Psychological Association conducted a survey in June 2013 that questioned various college counseling center directors. Of those surveyed, 95 percent said student psychological problems are a growing concern, and 70 percent “believe that the number of students with severe psychological problems on their campus has increased in the past year.”

Whether the numbers are increasing or we are just becoming more aware of the problem, it is something that must be addressed. Anxiety (which affects 41.6 percent of students) and depression (which affects 36.4 percent) inhibit an individual’s ability to grow intellectually and to succeed in their career.

So, where does Iowa State fit into all this?

Our university’s Student Counseling Services reside on the third floor of the Student Services Building. It provides individual and group counseling, among other services. Their Biofeedback program helps teach students about calming and de-stressing methods they can use throughout their lives. Professional counselors on staff ensure that students who go to the Counseling Services for help will be adequately treated.

Despite all this, is it enough? The Student Counseling website lists 12 senior staff members, all of whom have either M.Ed. or Ph.D. degrees. Also employed are a handful of individuals in each category of interns, practicum students and graduate assistants.

This year, Iowa State’s student enrollment is a staggering 33,241. Applying the numbers found by the American Psychology Association, that means that approximately 13, 828 students on campus struggle with anxiety, and approximately 12,100 students have experienced depression. Of course, many of these individuals might have problems that don’t require psychiatric help, but even so, 12 on-campus professionals are not enough to deal with the damaging issue of student mental health.

As a result of this lack of resources, students who go to Iowa State’s counseling services face being put on a lengthy waiting list. Unless an individual declares themselves to be suicidal or otherwise aggressive, their problems might not be addressed for weeks or even months to come.

One student by the name of Catherine, whose last name we have withheld, went to the Student Counseling Center for help and was placed on a waiting list for six weeks. Despite this, Catherine (who suffers anxiety and depression) felt that the counseling services were extremely accommodating and helped to alleviate her struggles despite the lack of available professionals.

“While I was on the wait list, they asked me if I just wanted to talk to an intern, and they talked to me about doing Biofeedback,” Catherine said.

It is clear that Student Counseling Services are doing all they can for individuals in need of their help, but the truth is they simply don’t have the resources to handle a campus of 33,241 students.

In order to truly accommodate its student body, Iowa State needs to dedicate more funding to Student Counseling Services. With both enrollment growing each year, so, too, do Iowa State’s resources need to expand to serve its students.

Students pay for the Student Counseling Services in part through student fees collected each semester. Of the $317.80 total, $94.10 goes toward student services. However, that fraction is then split again among services such as CyRide, the Thielen Student Health Center and, finally, the Student Counseling Center.

Few students want to be paying even more money to attend college; however, it is apparent that something must change. Whether student fees are increased, fee appropriations are reconsidered or the funding is found elsewhere, Student Counseling Services needs more resources to better serve our growing student body.