University therapy centers all over the United States have seen an increase in student patients in need of counseling.

The number of students across the country treated for depression doubled from 1989 to 2001. According to a study conducted at Kansas State University, more than twice the number of students were on a psychiatric medication.

UT Student Counseling Services Center has noted a increase in patients over the past couple of years, and these patients seem to be dealing with more complex issues.

“We’ve seen an increase in the number of students seeking help,” Gary Klukken, director of the Counseling Center, said. “We seem to be dealing a lot with more severe kinds of problems, not as much as simple kinds like home sickness. We are also having more students who are taking medication, and more couples are coming in together.”

According to students, they are not feeling more stressed than usual lately.

“I don’t think there’s more stress,” Jill Jacobs, a senior in speech pathology, said. “Therapy is not as much a negative thing as it was in the past. It’s become the norm.”

Experts agree that the stigma being removed has helped people come forward.

“More people are willing to seek help,” Klukken said. “A decade ago, people thought coming to a counseling center meant they were crazy. Dealing with mental health issues is much more everyday.”

Therapists, however, do believe that an increase in stress may contribute to the increase.

“Students come to college with a mental health history already,” Klukken said. “The stresses with coming into college has not necessarily changed. College isn’t an easy place to be. Tensions in the world over the past couple of years increased stress.”

Although the black cloud over therapy has been removed, some people who need help still are not seeking it.

“We try to tough it out until it doesn’t work,” Klukken said. “By somebody saying it, it sets the stage for them to say that they do. There’s not much you can do until they recognize that they need help.”

The Student Counseling Services Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 900 Volunteer Blvd. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m., first- time patients are encouraged to walk in for an interview.