“The numbers do suggest that females show higher amounts of mental issues,” says Hoyt, “but females may be more likely to admit it or label it than males.”

Over 34 percent of students reported a diagnosis of depression within the past year, as opposed to a national average of 23 percent. Of those students diagnosed, 32.4 percent reported current therapy, compared to a national average of only 17 percent.

“I think this speaks to good access to mental health services at UHS,” Hoyt says.

Blowing Smoke

The survey results also showed high levels of student smoking, with 15.6 percent reporting cigarette use each month.

“I’m surprised,” says Nicole M. Jones, ’03. “You don’t usually see that many people on campus smoking––there’s never anyone to bum a cigarette off of.”

Though Harvard was notably below the 25.3 percent national average, the data showed smoking frequency increasing with class year.

This statistic has caused great concern at UHS, as research by Harvard professors Graham Professor of Gender Studies Carol Gilligan and Professor of Psychiatry George E. Vaillant has shown that behaviors developed in early adulthood often become life-long habits.

“The smoking issue is huge,” Hoyt says. “It’s something we’re addressing, though it’s difficult to address in a college population because they’re starting to smoke, and forming habits.”

Though Harvard was one of the first colleges nationwide to forbid smoking in dorms, UHS has never had a smoking cessation program available to students on campus.

In response to the survey results, UHS is collaborating with Mass. General Hospital to help students stop smoking.

“It’s great that smokers have a place to go if they want to quit, but it’s getting the motivation that’s the problem,” says Jones. “If they want to quit, they’ll quit.”

The new smoking cessation program is specially priced for students at approximately $20 for the entire program, including free access to nicotine gum.

Dangerous Drinking

Students exhibited frequent––and sometimes dangerous––use of other substances, according to survey results. Student alcohol consumption mirrored the national trend with 72.2 percent of students reporting use in the past thirty days, slightly higher than the national average of 68 percent. Harvard students drink for an average of 2.5 hours when they “party.”