Driftwood The community newspaper of the University of New Orleans
Volume: 58 Issue: 19
driftwood.uno.edu
YOU ARE NOT ALONE 1 in 4 college students suffers from mental illness
March 11, 2015 ON CAMPUS HELP UNO’s counseling services are available to all students. Access the counseling services website at http://uno.edu/counseling-services. Advice from UNO’s Director of Counseling Services Adrian C. Péré 1. Be on the lookout for behavioral patterns: “Sometimes students don’t realize that a pattern had been present for a long time or that certain beliefs and behaviors that weren’t even ‘on the radar’ are contributing to their current concerns.” 2. Isolated events can cause temporary distress: “Sometimes we find that the student’s concerns are purely situational... current concerns are part of larger or more complex patterns which may need to be addressed in greater depth for full, long-term resolution.”
Photo Illustration by Christy Lorio
UNO Director of Counseling Services Adrian C. Péré and other mental health professionals provide confidential help to all UNO students.
Christy Lorio & Lyndsey Anderson Driftwood Staff According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in every four college students suffers from some form of mental illness. Bess Hart, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Deputy Director at Sinfonia Family Services, said “Early adulthood is the most common time that mental health issues would arise...for some students, it’s their first time away from family and their support systems.” NAMI’s 2012 survey “College Students Speak: A Survey Report on Mental Health,” reported that over 45 percent of students surveyed who dropped out of college did so because of mental health reasons and did not receive accommodations. Fifty percent of those students did not access mental health services at all. Stress per se isn’t necessarily a negative force; it’s when stress is an experienced continuum that it becomes a problem. Adrian C. Péré, LCSW, Board Approved Clinical Supervisor (BACS) and Director of Counseling Services, said “It’s actually a normal response to our environment and can even help us in particular situations. Stress can initiate growth and spur us on to make changes in our lives...It becomes a problem when the resources we have to manage or respond to the stress are inadequate.” UNO’s counseling services take
an assessment of each student that seeks help and tries to identify the root of his or her problem. Péré said,“When students come to see us, the first session is always an assessment session. It’s an opportunity for us to learn about the student’s reason for seeking counseling now, that is, their present concerns, but it’s also an opportunity to learn about the student’s background including any personal history that might contribute to or help explain andaccount for their symptoms and concerns.” Paisley Balthazar, a junior psychology student at LSU, realizes the importance of being proactive when it comes to a student’s own mental health. Balthazar said, “We really need to keep track of our own mental health. We can’t allow ourselves to fall so deep into a funk to where we can’t function properly...It’s so easy to get stressed out. And what some people tend to do is look for other coping mechanisms that might not necessarily be the best thing for them, like getting drunk after every quiz or test... it makes you feel good, and before you know it, you’re an alcoholic.” Depression and anxiety can create big problems if left untreated. Mikal Matton, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with her own private practice, said, “If you start to build patterns of depression and anxiety, that can affect the choices you make. You may become more susceptible to drinking, and the use of substances. It’s important to seek
help.” It is also important to be on the lookout for early stages of depression. Hart pointed out these signs vary from person to person. “Eating patterns,” she said, “eating more or less. Sleeping more or less. Procrastination and isolation are also things to look for.” It’s not uncommon for students to go through periods of moodiness in their life, but chronic depression warrants professional help. According to Hart, it is important to get the recommended treatments and not to ignore symptoms, especially for depression. “It won’t just go away,” Hart said. Physical health can also factor into student’s mental well-being. Hart said, “Taking good care of your body is important. Exercising, getting sleep and eating well matter.” Alesia Taylor, an English major at Louisiana State University, has had her share of anxiety throughout her college career yet has managed to better regulate it through diet and exercise. “I changed up my diet a bit,” she said, “I really try to only drink water and eat more greens. I also walk or jog three to four times a week.” Another factor that can affect mental health is the desire to be perfect and have it all together. “How critical you are on yourself and about work, school, etc. plays a pretty big role,” Hart said. “Our culture has changed a lot. There’s a lot more need in peoples’ lives.” Matton said, “We’re living in a
high-paced world right now...people are under a lot of pressure...It’s helpful to be forgiving of ourselves and our expectations. It’s okay to explore the pressure we put on ourselves.” Being able to pinpoint what causes anxiety and its effects is an important part of the treatment process. Matton said, “It differs from person to person. Talking to people, reaching out and seeing what’s normal and acceptable is something to take into consideration.” Many students may feel ashamed for seeking counseling, but identifying stress early on, instead of being in denial about it, can help. “There’s a lot of stigma about mental health,” Hart said, “Like we’re all suppose to deal with it like it’s normal.” A key to mental illness prevention is student’s knowing what their “normal” is. “One of the first things we [she and her student clients] work on is self talk and cognition,” said Hart. Péré said, “Assess your stress level on a daily basis so you’re aware when you may be approaching your threshold of tolerance.” Therapy can make a huge difference in the long run. Matton pointed out that “the earlier we can start to take care of ourselves, the better off we’d be. Our mental health can have an impact on the world.” Matton said, “A lot of people are in therapy. You don’t have to talk about it [with others]. The most important thing is that you take something from it.”
3.Treatment plans are key: “If based on the assessment, it seems the student may benefit from the short-term treatment we offer, we’ll develop a targeted treatment plan with specific, measurable goals to address those concerns. If a student’s counseling needs and goals are beyond the scope of the shortterm services we offer, or when a student desires longer-term counseling, we’ll provide referrals to other resources in the area.” WARNING SIGNS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR: Physical: Fatigue, muscle tension, backaches, headaches, weight fluctuation, changes in appetite, illness Emotional and psychological signs: Significant (problematic) changes in mood and behavior, anxiety, forgetfulness, poor judgement, problems with concentration, depression, critical attitude and negativity, irritability, restlessness, increase in anger, hopelessness Unhealthy responses: Negative self-talk, physical acting out, increased substance use, compulsive eating, social isolation HOW TO INCREASE SELF AWARENESS: -Know your personality, what causes stress, your risk factors, and how to access your support system. -Know your triggers and your limits. -Pay attention to your patterns throughout the semester and take note of the times that your stress level is high. -Know what helps manage your stress and use that.