Mental illness, in many ways, can be more difficult to diagnose and treat than physical illness. You can’t just put a thermometer in someone’s mouth or give them a blood test for an instant diagnosis. Often, a combination of therapy and medications is needed for the patient to improve, and even then it might be a lifelong challenge.

Although people have difficulties through various times of their lives, college life is particularly difficult and those difficulties might be triggers for an underlying mental health problem.

That’s why it’s so important for colleges and universities — and grade, middle and high schools as well — to provide counseling, support and referrals for people dealing with mental health issues.

A Northern Michigan University student recently died by suicide, which triggered a student response, part of which involved students believing that NMU is not handling mental health issues as well as it could.

NMU acknowledged improvement is needed, although officials indicated they need to better promote what’s already available.

NMU’s on-campus Counseling and Consultation Services is available free to students to help them participate more successfully in campus life. The university plans to build a new comprehensive health care facility that will merge mind and body by housing both Counseling and Consultation Services and the NMU Health Center.

However, an NMU student being suspended recently over sending out a survey to students through Google Farms, asking them how NMU could improve the way it handles mental health issues, didn’t go over well in some circles. NMU officials, though, indicated certain protocols have to be followed when surveys are circulated.

Regardless of how that situation will play out, students still face many issues while attending college and sometimes professional help is needed.

We are pleased to learn that a mental health assessment of the NMU campus has begun, with Jim Haveman, a former NMU trustee with a background in the field, to lead the process, which will involve interviews with students.

It is expected he will develop a report on the issue in August.

We agree with this step and hope the report sheds light on mental health on campus, and provides recommendations on how services can be improved.

This involves transparency on and off campus, so not only will students know what’s going on, but their parents and local residents as well.

Also, people who don’t suffer from such an illness can help remove the stigma from those who do. That’s something everyone can do individually.

We also hope the effort to improve mental health services doesn’t stop with the report. Unfortunately, mental illness is a permanent problem in society, and one that needs to be continually monitored and dealt with in the most caring and professional way possible.