The mental health of college and university students is under constant attack by social, academic and economic pressures.

A recent study reported in Professional Psychology stated that, until 1994, relationship problems were the biggest issue, but now stress and anxiety are reported more often.

"Students come in to talk about academic issues, but they bring the stress of their life with them," Lonzetta Smith-Allen, director of counseling and testing on South Campus, said.

Smith-Allen believes that the stress of a student's life directly impacts the student in class and determines the student's ability to function.

"It is different for each student, but it can manifest itself in anxiety," she said.

Anxiety disorders are diagnosable, treatable and the most common mental illness in America, according to the National Mental Health Association.

NMHA reports that anxiety disorders affect over 19 million adults every year while 7 percent of college students reported experiencing anxiety over the past year.

In the TCC district all but one counseling center reported higher rates of stress among students seeking counseling. The center that did not report a higher rate did not want to go on record.

Women are five times as likely to have anxiety disorders as men and report it more often than men.

"Men become more argumentative than women," Dr. Joe Rode, dean of student development and educational services and director of counseling on NW Campus, said. "It could be the difference in the way men and women handle things."

Rode explained that many students are unsure of the future in these times of military action, and such uncertainty causes anxiety.

The threat of terrorism also is a cause of stress and anxiety in many students. This is a problem that students just five years ago did not have to deal with.

"Many students and other people are on edge and less patient with others because of the uncertainty," he said.

NMHA also reports a rise in the number of college students diagnosed with depression.

More college women are diagnosed with depression than college men. According to a national college survey, 10 percent of students have been diagnosed with depression.

A UCLA report states that 30 percent of college students feel overwhelmed a great deal of the time.

Rode believes since students have to deal with so many external pressures, stress and anxiety result.

The situation with Iraq and the threat of terrorism along with job layoffs and keeping up class demands are sometimes too much for students to handle.

"There is certainly more anxiety about the future now than in the past years," Rode said.

Researchers are finding that many mental disorders can be traced to trauma, the results of which appear in times of stress and change.

The college years frequently trigger such stress because of the many changes involved.

Within the TCC district, the requests for counseling have grown, but according to Dr. Marisa Garcia-Luna, director of counseling on SE Campus, TCC counselors can meet the need.

"We are prepared to help the students with their mental health," she said. "Recent events in the world and locally have students stressed out."

Garcia-Luna stressed the availability of counselors on all four campuses. She expressed the hope that any student who is having a problem-no matter how small or large-should seek help. TCC counselors are trained to help with such issues.

The Mental Health Association of Tarrant County has screening sites set up all over the county, where students can get screened at no charge.

Students can call 817-335-5405 and give the operator their zip code, and the operator will direct students to the nearest screening site.

The Mental Health Association of Tarrant County will also connect students with support groups, counselors or other mental health professionals.

Their list of professionals includes those who work on a sliding scale, those who work specifically with college students or those who meet other particulars students may want.