CP, Chronicle-Herald - Universities across the country will be keeping a watchful eye on their flocks, looking for signs of distress as the fall semester kicks off

Many are training residence dons and even professors to spot struggling students, part of a broader effort that has seen universities roll out suicide awareness campaigns, wellness classes and stress-management workshops in recent years.

The push comes as campus clinics scramble to assist a growing number of students seeking help as they wrestle with depression, post-traumatic stress, eating disorders and other conditions. And even with a list of seminars, clubs and centres to choose from, students say it can be hard to know where to turn for help.

Demand for mental health services "has grown exponentially" over the past decade, said Dr. Robert Franck, who heads the mental health clinic at McGill University in Montreal. Last year, the clinic — one of the few in the country with several psychiatrists on staff — saw some 1,500 new students on top of those who return year-to-year, totalling more than 18,000 visits, he said.

"We try to give appointments within two weeks, because two weeks in the life of a student ... it’s very important when they’re struggling and in trouble," he said.