A RATIO of one counsellor to 2,000 students is recommended by the Irish Association of University and College Counsellors. The actual ratio is in excess of 1:5,000. New Zealand, a useful comparison, has a 1:2,130 ratio. A survey by Education & Living last week found just three colleges - Athlone RTC, Tallaght RTC and the NCAD - met the association's guidelines and a number of others, including the DIT and UCG, inside a 1:3,000 ratio Colleges with the poorest ratios included UCD (1:7,000), TCD (1:6,000) and UCC (almost 1:5,000).

Helena Ahern, a DCU counsellor and spokeswoman for the association, says colleges are recognising the need for well funded counselling services. However, third level colleges still have more chaplains than counsellors, more priests than doctors.

Counsellors have continued to expand their roles, developing programmes to help students. There are workshops on study methods, communication skills and other programmes.

The stresses of student life can sometimes bring bad childhood memories to the surface and counselling can help students through the different stages they must go through to get over these things.

Stress is a reality at third level, says Ahern, and, while some is necessary as a spur, too much inevitably brings problems.