“I’ve been in over thirty mental health and lockdown facilities over the last twenty years and I can honestly say that Hopewell was a beacon of light compared to all of the others.”
Month: April 2019
Break the Mental Health Stigma on College Campuses
Nationally, there’s much debate about whether there is indeed a mental health crisis on college campuses. Is occurrence and prevalence of mental illness actually rising among students, or is our culture becoming more accepting of seeking treatment for mental health issues, so more students are speaking up? Statistical interpretation aside, not every student struggling with symptoms of a psychiatric disorder seeks care. One factor that impedes help-seeking and undermines the service system is mental health stigma.
Far more than any other type of illness, mental disorders are subject to stigmatization. Negative stereotypes often pair mental illness with violence and incompetence, and place blame on the person for their illness. This kind of public stigma may even become internalized as self-stigmatization – compounding the distress.
Both these types of stigma are risk factors for suicide. In a time when 1 in 5 college students reports having had thoughts of suicide in the past year, continued breakdown of stigma and other barriers to help-seeking should be a vital component to any campus wellness strategy. Take inspiration from the following strategies and resources to break down stigma on your college campus.
Empower Everyone
Education has long been a key component in reducing stigma around mental health. Some institutions are taking it a step further to focus on practical training and programs for non-mental health professionals such as faculty and students. In 2018, Kent State University received the honor of being named one of the healthiest universities in the nation, partly because it provided mental health training to more than 700 students, faculty and staff members. The University of Texas at Austin started BeVocal, designed to enhance bystanders’ confidence to intervene, including stepping in when someone is being bullied, shunned or otherwise stigmatized.
For the past few years, many campus orientations have included at least an explanation of the internal mental health resources available to students. On other campuses though, students take a mandatory mental health literacy training course during orientation, where they learn about signs and symptoms. They’ll also be given advice on how to approach personal struggles, as well as those of loved ones.
Still other institutions are receiving guidance from unexpected sources. In Philadelphia, city government officials created HealthyMindsPhilly.org. It is a decidedly unbureaucratic-looking online resource designed to support and improve mental health and well-being of those who live, work and study in the city. Part of that mission includes onsite, personalized training for college and university faculty, staff, families and students. The program teaches participants how to help one another within the context of their respective campus culture and available resources.
Go Campus-wide & Campus-Deep
Initiatives are a great way to start organizing your campus around the idea of fighting mental health stigma. If you don’t have the resources to develop your own campaign, there are plenty of credible organizations that can help. NAMI’s StigmaFree campaign encourages a pledge of solidarity at all levels of campus culture. NAMI provides both free and for-sale items to support campaign adoption as well as a quiz on the effect of stigma that can be sent to students, parents, and faculty by email. Send Silence Packing is a powerful ongoing exhibit developed by Active Minds that aims to spur conversation about mental health and suicide. The campaign began in 2008, and with its hundreds of backpacks representing those affected by suicide, it is a potent way to convey the critical need for open conversation about mental health.
Transcend structure on your campus to delve deeper into solutions that fight stigma and remove barriers to seeking help. At Ohio State University, a number of departments, including the College of Social Work, now collaborate with the university’s Office of Counseling and Consultation Services to embed a clinical social worker or other mental health professional directly in academic programs. Similarly, the University of Michigan has 12 embedded counselors, including psychologists and social workers, in schools with notoriously rigorous academics, such as engineering, dentistry and pharmacy. Other schools have placed counselors in the athletic department because athletes often face a culture that stigmatizes mental health issues as weakness.
Let Technology Help
Students now are more than tech-savvy, they’re digital natives – and they may be less interested in traditional mental health treatments. So while apps and websites are not a replacement for in-person therapy, wellness centers that don’t consider technology will do themselves and their students a disservice. You could develop your own app, like Harvard did, but you can also do something as simple as posting a list of recommended apps or displaying a kiosk where students can anonymously take mental health screenings.
A number of companies have risen to the challenge of thinking through ways to meet the demand for mental health on college campuses. YOU at College is a customizable resource accessed on a school’s website through a confidential profile. Because it tackles everything from academics and career path to stress and social life, it could help those needing mental health services to not feel they are on a path separate from other students. Conversation simulations like those by Kognito train students and faculty to respond appropriately in sensitive situations. Kognito itself has been adopted by more than 350 schools and universities nationwide.
Create Safe Spaces
If there weren’t a Starbucks every 10 feet, you might not buy so many lattes. Perhaps that’s the kind of strategy Penn State University had in mind when it set up a half-dozen drop-in clinics across campus. Dispersing physical access to mental health services could very well increase the likelihood that students seek care.
The move could also help destigmatize mental health by virtue of centers’ now-ubiquitous presence on campus. These clinics – placed in high-traffic areas such as residence halls and student unions – also allow students to consult a therapist without making an appointment, removing yet another hurdle to seeking help.
After evaluating data on students who seek mental health counseling at its main campus, the University of South Florida found that nearly a quarter didn’t actually need a therapist. Some students just needed better time management skills, or different ways to reduce anxiety. To help address such issues, the Tampa university created “relaxation stations” that include massage chairs and nap pods. Sometimes a safe space to decompress and to see that others need to do the same may be all that’s needed to help a student through the day.
Consult Resources for College Counselors
There are many approaches to reducing stigma, and if you’re looking for structured guides and professional forums, the following resources can be a great help.
- The JED Foundation Campus Mental Health Action Planning guide for promoting mental health and preventing suicide.
- Campus resources and programs from Half of Us, video and online content that highlights the real stories and issues college students face, and encourages them to reach out to campus or community resources if they need help.
- The HMN free Webinar Series provides an opportunity to discuss research findings in the field of college student mental health and their implications for practice.
- The HEMHA guide College Counseling from a Distance: Whether and When to Engage in Telemental Health Services.
- Education to share with students and faculty about positive language to use.
- A Guide to Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning in the College Classroom from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
- The National Academies Press outlines approaches to reducing stigma taken in Australia, Canada and England.
- Affordable Colleges Online has resources specific to college students living with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, including tips on accommodations.
- Accredited Schools Online features expert advice and school resources as well as innovative ideas for mental health on college campuses such as canine therapy and nap halls.
Despite the proliferation of mental health groups and initiatives, 47% of students surveyed in the 2017-2018 Healthy Minds Study believe “most people would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment.”
Thus, there is more work to be done on reducing stigma. And, as needed as additional counseling staff may be, most colleges and universities also realize the importance of taking fresh approaches to address mental health stigma on campus. Reducing stigma will go a long way for many students experiencing mental health issues.
For those students who need to take medical leave due to a serious psychiatric disorder, there are evidence-based residential programs such as our therapeutic farm community at Hopewell that can help college students learn the skills necessary to return to school.
Celebrities with Bipolar Disorder Speak Out
As a college student, it may be your first time away from home, you’re meeting tons of new people, and you’re perhaps facing new hurdles with not only grades but also your mental health. If you notice signs of bipolar disorder, lack of public discourse on the topic — on campus or off — may make you feel isolated.
But you are definitely not alone. While our society continues to struggle with stigma and misconceptions when it comes to mental illnesses, there are plenty of celebrities who are speaking up about their own struggles. There are resources for you whether you are undiagnosed or not. And if you haven’t yet found friends or a peer group to talk to, these celebrity stories may help you find the firm, common ground to stand on while you find your footing.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato, diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teen, entered a treatment facility when she was 22 to work on her symptoms. She has spoken openly about her periods of mania, during which she could stay up all night yet sleep 16 hours per day. Demi partnered with mental health advocacy groups to launch Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, which encourages those with mental illnesses to advocate on behalf of themselves, their communities, and others dealing with mental health issues.
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher – a constant mental health advocate until she passed away in 2016 – openly discussed her bipolar disorder. She fought against mental illness stigma and gave hope to those suffering from bipolar disorder. Her candid response to her public bipolar episode was, “It’s not a neat illness. It doesn’t go away. I’m just lucky this hasn’t happened more.”
Carrie positioned her mental illness as something she dealt with, not an issue that defined her. Although speaking about taking medication to treat mental illness can be daunting, Carrie did so often, showing that people who have bipolar disorder (and any other mental illness) can lead dynamic lives.
Halsey
In 2017 – along with Khalid, Logic and other celebrities – Halsey helped out with the “I’m Listening” campaign, which fought against the stigma of mental illness and advocated for suicide prevention. Halsey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was a teen, and her mother had bipolar disorder as well. She fights against the concept of romanticizing mental illness, as the ups and downs of bipolar disorder are tough on her, but she says the mental illness has also helped her grow.
There are many more celebrities living with bipolar disorder, including Mariah Carey, David Harbour, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Pete Wentz. Even successful historical figures Abraham Lincoln, Isaac Newton and Charles Dickens are thought by some to have had bipolar disorder!
Celebrity Organizations That Support Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy
In addition to Demi Lovato’s Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, many celebrities have created organizations to change the way we address mental health stigma. Glenn Close and her family founded Bring Change to Mind after her sister was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her nephew was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. The organization fights against negative perceptions of those with mental illnesses. Lady Gaga, who has battled depression and anxiety, created the Born This Way Foundation to empower the next generation. From Ariana Grande to Justin Bieber, celebrities are opening up and demystifying mental illness.
You’re Not Alone
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), bipolar disorder affects over 10 million Americans, or 2.6% of the population. Find someone you trust to talk about your potential diagnosis. Remember that your diagnosis does not define you, and you can accomplish any goals you set your mind to, including graduating college.
Early Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Adult Children
Have you noticed your child’s mood shifting inexplicably? Young adults with bipolar disorder have periods of extreme happiness only to drop to a depressive state soon after. Bipolar disorder is manageable with an effective treatment plan, which could include therapy, medication, a consistent schedule and anything else that will keep your child on track.
Recognizing the telltale signs of bipolar disorder can be tricky. With bipolar disorder, the feelings and habits your child cycles through are moments of high energy – mistaken for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – and extreme lows which may be misdiagnosed as major depression.
Identifying Mania
Those experiencing mania exhibit drastically different mood shifts than their typical demeanor.
- Easily distracted – They might become easily distracted, going back and forth between multiple topics without reason.
- Reckless – Pay close attention if your child is acting more reckless with their spending—something you can monitor especially if they live at home.
- Sleeplessness – Children going through a manic episode do not get much sleep and typically do not feel tired despite their lack of sleep. If they are away at college, ask them about their sleep habits.
- Inflated sense of self – You might also notice your child has an inflated sense of self to the point where they might believe they are omnipotent.
Identifying Depression
Much like major depression, catching when your child is sad, low energy and cannot seem to think clearly could allow you to get them the help they need before they experience more severe side effects like suicidal ideation. Other aspects of a depressive episode may be:
- Pain – complaining about a pain that will not go away,
- Diet – drastic changes to eating habits
- Isolation – favoring being alone over interacting with friends or family.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
If you believe your child has major depression or ADHD, look at all the warning signs together. If they have manic episodes as well as depressive episodes, your child might have bipolar disorder. It is important to speak to a medical health professional about the different illnesses your child could be experiencing. Certain medications – such as medications used to treat ADHD – may intensify the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and antidepressants may be helpful only when taken with a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic.
Combining medication with cognitive behavior therapy will also help your child cope with their illness. If your child is away at college, encourage them to access to their school’s counseling center, as most colleges offer those services to their students free of charge.
Reach out to your child at least once every few days; allow them the freedom to be away at school, but also recognize the transition to college can be particularly tough. Pay close attention to if there are any changes in the ways they discuss their time at school to monitor whether medications and therapy are effective.
Recognizing the early signs of bipolar disorder can be tricky; especially because young adults jump back and forth between extreme moods much more rapidly than older adults. Observe what they are going through, listen to them and offer your help.
Your child may want to treat their bipolar disorder with minimal involvement from others, or they may benefit from a therapeutic community environment. Regardless of treatment type, the first step is identifying the illness and taking the necessary steps to manage your child’s bipolar disorder.