VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 11 hilltopviewsonline.com
HILLTOP VIEWS
EDITORS’ NOTE: Millions of Americans are affected by depression, anxiety and other mental health issues each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Alarmingly, only about half of them receive treatment. But for such a prevalent problem, it is little discussed, still proscribed as taboo by contemporary society. At the university, where the majority of students are between the ages of 18 and 25, the demographic is disproportionately affected by mental disorders, it is even more crucial to talk about these issues. Many students, faculty and staff members live with a mental health issue or have dealt with one at some point in their lives. We have dedicated this special issue to discussing mental health issues and specifically looking at our St. Edward’s community. Although dealing with mental health issues will always be difficult, we hope that the stories, resources and articles in this issue can help to open up conversation on our campus and beyond. We can’t cover every topic, but our goal is to spark the discussion. These conversations are necessary if we are to erase stigmas and falsehoods surrounding mental health. Our hope for this special issue is that readers can learn, find resources and be empowered to change the way we relate to mental health issues in our local St. Edward’s community and in our world.
SPECIAL REPORT:
MENTAL HEALTH
April 26, 2017 St. Edward’s University
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LETTER from Dr. Calvin Kelly The State of College Mental Health College student mental health is being discussed more frequently by college and university staff across the country. Campus counseling centers and health services staff are busier than ever supporting student populations with rapidly changing needs and understanding mental health cases that are growing in severity.
• Through our Wellness and Outreach Coordinator, the HCC provides programs and activities that educate about healthy living and lifestyles; • Campus-wide programs help provide information for faculty, staff and students so they can recognize early warning signs of serious problems and aim to de-stigmatize mental health challenges.
According to the 2015 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, 40 percent of their clients have severe psychological problems, and 8 percent have impairments so serious that they cannot remain in school, or can do so only extensive psychological/psychiatric help. College campus health professionals dedicate their careers to providing care for students with anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, stress, eating disorders, substance abuse and relationship problems.
Students who need treatment often don’t seek it for two primary reasons: stigma and stereotyping. “Stigma” describes the shame, fear and discrimination that result from stereotypes surrounding mental illness.
Some St. Edward’s University students, (like many college students around the country) face short-term crises, recover quickly and are able to resume classes and enjoy a full campus life. Getting the appropriate, early treatment is key to a student’s mental and physical well-being, and to their academic success. Research shows that when students are treated for mental health challenges they are able continue their education. The National Survey of Counseling Center Directors (2015) finds 53.6 percent of students report that counseling helped them to remain in school and 57.8 percent state that counseling services helped their academic performance. Typically, grades improve and the student’s outlook rebounds considerably. St. Edward’s University, through its integrated Health & Counseling Center (HCC) is uniquely positioned to help students with mental health issues recover and complete their education successfully. As an integrated center, we believe that some of the keys to our success are: • Address student needs and concerns holistically, treating both physical and mental health care issues; • The HCC is able to provide same-day access to care when a student is experiencing severe distress;
Dealing with stigma around seeking and receiving treatment has been identified as the biggest challenge in handling mental illness amongst students on campus. The stigma of admitting the need for help and asking for it is strong, whether it is self-imposed stigma or peer pressure. The HCC’s goal is to operate from the premise of the African proverb: “It Takes a Village.” As a center, we recognize and accept that we are only a small part of the mental health success that our campus community experiences. We have campus partners comprised of faculty, staff and students that work very hard to create the village that provides a continuum and community of care for all our members. As the director of the Health and Counseling Center, I recognize that we are not perfect, and there is a tremendous amount of work that remains to be done to create a mentally healthy campus environment. As an institution of higher education, St. Edward’s is committed to the emotional well-being of our students and understands that their overall growth is the university’s responsibility. Dr. Calvin Kelly Director Health & Counseling Center
HILLTOP VIEWS
hilltopviewseditors@gmail.com 512-448-8426 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jacob Rogers Rosemond Crown
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Hilltop Views is the student newspaper published by the School of Humanities and serves the St. Edward’s University community. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the university, whose mission is grounded in the teachings and doctrine of the Catholic Church. Hilltop Views welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters may be edited for space, grammar and clarity. Letters will be published at our discretion and anonymous letters will not be printed.
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advisory board created to help mental health By JACOB ROGERS
In April of 2016, an Advisory Board on Student Welfare and Mental Health was appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs Lisa Kirkpatrick. For the past year, the board has been researching and brainstorming ideas to help students. The primary goal of the advisory board is to increase the probability that students with mental health challenges, as well as students exhibiting concerning behaviors, are identified as early as possible and appropriate institutional support is provided said Calvin Kelly, co-chair of the board and director of the Health & Counseling Center. “The end game is to ensure students have the support they need to be successful, both academically and in life, and have a terrific student experience at St.
Edward’s,” Kirkpatrick said. The board has five objectives: - Complete an internal audit of campus processes to identify students with mental health concerns or engaging in concerning behavior. - Identify new or improved programs to support students engaging in concerning behaviors or mental health challenges. - Determine if additional campus data can be gathered and categorized to identify troubled students to help with early intervention and outreach. - Review and develop recommendations for referral process to different committees to ensure appropriate referrals are made with appropriate outcomes. - Develop recommendations for prevention and outreach efforts for students who are most at risk for selfharm or for harming others.
By AMANDA GONZALEZ Stresses of college can sometimes trigger mental health conditions — and doctors suggests that medication may not be the only solution. Campus Recreation provides St. Edward’s with some activities that could supplementally help in coping with some mental illness issues. “We have students that will come in and talk to us about battles with depression or students that have suicidal thoughts, and the first thing I tell them is that I’ve had those things too,” Campus Recreation Director Andy Lemons said. In the past Lemons took anti-depressants, and finds that an active lifestyle is a strong asset to living a healthier life. Additionally, he doesn’t want students to feel ostracized for being open about mental health. Clinical psychologist James Blumenthal conducted an experiment exploring the connection between mood and exercise. Per Kirsten Weir of the American Psychological Association, Blumenthal and his colleagues assigned depressed adults to one of four groups: supervised exercise, home-based exercise, antidepressant therapy or a placebo pill. After four months of treatment, Blumenthal concluded that exercise is generally comparable to antidepressants for patients with major depressive disorder. A year later, those subjects who continued with regular exercise also had lower depression scores than less active peers. "Exercise seems not only important for treating depression, but also in preventing relapse," Blumenthal said to APA. There are different wellness options available on campus. Group X passes provide a weekly
variety of group workouts like yoga and kickboxing. Intramural sports such as softball or flag football tournaments are friendly competitions against fellow groups of SEU students. Another option are club sports teams, which practice regularly and compete against other schools, in sports like rugby, lacrosse, basketball and soccer. Students can also play racquetball or volleyball, swim or use the fitness studio in the Alumni Gym for individual workouts. “The [Health and Counseling Center] is overworked with a lot of these [mental health] issues, so let’s first try to refer students to be active or get into a fitness class to try and manage and mitigate, because a lot of it is just stress of being an adult,” Lemons said. Some of the complaints or excuses Lemons hears from students about Campus Rec. include time constraints, limited exercise space in the weight room and recreation fields, the false perception of the RCC catering to NCAA athletes, as well as program costs. Lemons and the Campus Rec. staff encourage students to live within six dimensions of wellness: physical, mental, spiritual, social, financial and purposeful wellness. However, there are some issues that exercise cannot fix, and Lemons is clear in saying that there are some situations that require medical help. “You don’t need a Xanax for everything — and you do need it for a lot of things. Let’s find out which one is which,” Lemons said. “But because [Campus Rec.] wants to be that resource. We also don’t want people to think we don’t believe that real mental health is an issue — because I’ve suffered from it, and I know it is a real thing.”
The advisory board is a collaborative effort between the Student Affairs and Academic Affairs division. The board is also comprised of co-chair and Dean of Students Steven Pinkenburg, and 11 other members, which is inclusive of students, faculty and staff. Ideas have not yet to be presented to and approved by administrators, and events have not yet been announced. The plan is to have more events and awareness starting next semester, Kelly said. “This entire effort opens the door to larger conversations about wellness and healthy living for all,” Kirkpatrick said. “In a community with the values and relationships that we hold so dear, holistic wellness is everybody’s business and ultimately it is about caring for one another in a way that helps each student become the best version of themselves.”
campus rec. offers active alternatives
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STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION By ELIZABETH UCLES At any point in time, three to five percent of adults in the U.S. suffer from major depression according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. In 2014, about 15.7 million of American adults experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year. These statistics are two of many that exemplify the prevalence of depression in U.S. adults. These statistics, however, do not demark the portion of college students experiencing depression. College campuses serve as a cauldron of high emotion and intensity for students as it is. Whether it’s graduate school, parents or students themselves, a high degree of pressure is put on students to perform and excel, which often causes students to set their own needs aside. St. Edward’s senior Michael Pacheco’s journey with depression took a
turn during his time on the hilltop. The beginning of Pacheco’s depression dates back to his sophomore year of high school in California, when he felt apart from everyone else for being gay. Mainstream media’s failure to represent gay youth furthered Pacheco’s feeling of isolation. “It felt like I was living such a different life that no one understood,” Pacheco said, “It drove me into a dark space in my head.” Through the support of friends and the inspiration of Kurt and Blaine’s relationship from FOX’s TV show “Glee,” Pacheco fought suicidal thoughts and gained the confidence to come out to his classmates during his junior year. Coming to Texas was a whole new ballgame for Pacheco. His freshman and sophomore years reflected Pacheco’s newfound confidence after coming out to friends in his residence hall. This confidence radiated in Pacheco’s wardrobe and overall personality. He eventually became heavily involved at St. Edward’s through Residence Life and Student Life.
Pacheco’s depression would take a new turn during his junior year when his social, personal, professional and academic worlds started to clash. “I felt overwhelmed with two jobs on campus, 18 hours and an internship at Travis High School,” Pacheco said. “I lost sight in life, I felt like no matter how hard I tried, I kept falling into a darker pit.” The whirlwind of Pacheco’s multiple facets caused him to lose sight of his goals. “I began to question adulthood and this whole transition from teenager to adulthood,” he said. This feeling persisted into Pacheco’s senior year, and toward the end of the fall semester, he realized it was vital to take a step back. “I am beyond happy with the plan the Health and Counseling Center and Students with Disabilities Office came up with for me to come back to California and take a semester off to better my mental health,” Pacheco said. During his semester of recovery, Pacheco has taken up various meth-
ods to improve this mental health, including speaking to various psychologists, keeping a journal and being more open with family. Today, Pacheco is able to step away from his continuing battle with depression and find gratitude for all that has helped him become better. “Dealing with depression is probably one of the most exhausting experiences ever,” Pacheco said. “But when I take a step back to reevaluate everything that has happened thus far I am thankful that I have found so much love and support.” Pacheco identified the growing darkness within himself and took necessary measures to save himself. For him, it was taking a step away from his collegiate life. “One piece of advice that I received when I left school for the semester from my best friends is to not be afraid of being with yourself,” Pacheco said. “Solitude is a beautiful thing if you are able to sit comfortably with yourself.”
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AVOIDING THE STIGMA By ANDREA GUZMAN College students are at the highest risk period for problematic substance use, and many St. Edward’s students will experience the “maturing out phenomenon” by the time they walk out the red doors at graduation. Assistant Professor of Psychology Kelly Green describes the maturing out phenomenon as occurring when someone develops problematic substance use patterns but then goes through lifestyle changes that require responsibilities and social roles that lead them to no longer abuse substances. Though people from the ages of 18 to 25 are at a high risk to abuse substances, others don’t “mature out.” Anyone with other mental health issues that would benefit from professional treatment is confronted with the stigma surrounding mental health. Green said the stigma can be even greater for those struggling with addiction. “The way we treat addicts doesn’t work...we cut them off their social connections and it’s kind of the opposite of what people need at that point in their life,” Green said. “Unfortunately, it’s really hard to get that message across when you’re really worried and when you’re really angry at some of the things the
person is doing.” Also a clinical psychologist, Green sees not only those struggling with addiction but people trying to cope with having a loved one who abuses substances. “Sometimes they feel like they don’t have a right to be upset about it,” Green said. “There’s a lot of kind of feeling guilty - like they’re not the ones struggling so why should they be in treatment?” A way to be helpful for those facing addiction is to provide positive reinforcement, and avoid misuse of clinical terms. Positive reinforcement could be practiced by someone expressing how much they enjoyed spending time with the person in recovery on days they stay sober, and detaching on days they don’t, rather than threatening or punishing the person. Something everyone can keep in mind, and not just those who know someone struggling with mental health disorders, is to reserve use of certain vocabulary for instances that it’s relevant. “So we say, ‘oh he’s such a narcissist’ or very ‘antisocial’ or ‘I was feeling very bipolar.’ We use these terms that are clinical terms that mean something very specific, but we misuse them a lot in the common vernacular so that leads to some problems,” Green said. Another clinical psychologist at St. Edward’s aims
to combat the stigma surrounding mental health by thinking of it like any other medical condition rather than a personal weakness. “If you had a huge migraine, you wouldn’t have any stigma about going to a doctor and getting a prescription for migraine pills, and psychological disorders are the same thing,” said Assistant Professor of Psychology Tomas Yufik. “So, it’s just like getting a pill for a migraine, therapy in the future, will be totally normalized. ‘Yeah I have a migraine or a headache, I’m feeling a little depressed, I’ll just go and get some therapy.’ That’s where it should be.” Still, it remains uncertain how many people in the St. Edward’s community are dealing with mental health conditions, and whether they are accessing resources available to them. The annual diversity survey includes a question asking whether or not students, faculty and staff have faced mental health conditions in the past year. Green is hopeful that it will help develop new programs or policies for those who are struggling. “One of the things we don’t get a good sense of is how many students are struggling with mental health problems at the university level,” Green said. “We can get data for that by looking at how many people go to the counseling center, but that doesn’t capture it fully.”
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Q&A By VICTORIA CAVAZOS According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 1,825 U.S. college students aged 18 to 24 die from alcohol-related injuries. Nearly 700,000 of them are assaulted by another student who was under the influence of alcohol, and about 97,000 report sexual assault or date-rape, related to alcohol consumption. Roughly one of every five college students is living with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), more commonly known as alcoholism. The rest are living with the consequences of a culture that encourages reckless drinking. Hilltop Views sat down with Steven Pinkenburg, dean of students, to better understand how to spot and support peers living with alcohol abuse.
Drink too much? Don’t struggle alone What is the difference between the kind of binge drinking that is normalized in college and alcoholism? When somebody has gotten to a place where they’re an alcoholic, they are experiencing serious consequences, potentially catastrophic consequences, yet they continue to do the thing that is actually causing those consequences. And it very well could be that highrisk drinking when they were younger or at any point in their life has brought them to the point where they’ve actually developed the disease. Binge drinking is definitely high-risk drinking which may lead to alcoholism. It doesn’t mean it always will, but it may lead to it. And I think, you know, there are a lot of people that will engage in high-risk drinking that will end up having consequences. It could be a DWI, it could be the loss of a relationship, it could be that academics suffer from it and then basically they’ll be able to look back and reflect on it and say, “Wow, I had some negative consequences; I need to now make some changes.” Whereas an alcoholic actually will just continue on that same path even though they’ve got these negative consequences. A hallmark of the disease of addiction too, is denial. So a lot of times [alcoholics] are in denial that they have a problem, not really wanting to review and reflect on what all has happened. And that can be a super challenging part of the disease. But denial is not unhealthy. Denial becomes a problem when we stay there. And that’s probably a hallmark of addiction is that people end up staying in that same place.
What do you mean by high-risk drinking? We used to tell people to practice what we call 0-1-2-3 guidelines. Basically if you’re ever driving: no drinks. If you’re going to drink everyday of your life, it’s best to have only one drink: that would be low-risk. If you’re going to drink every other day or if it’s broken up: two drinks, and never more than 3 drinks, so that you’re not getting into those high-risk practices. So if you follow those [guidelines], you’re staying away from high-risk drinking. Binge drinking, and doing it often and over and over again, you are sort of beginning to work your way towards alcoholism. And it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop the disease. I think a lot of people think “Oh I don’t have the alcoholic gene,” or “I do have the alcoholic gene so I have to be careful” or “I have an addictive personality,” but it’s a combination of factors. It’s not just sort of addictive personality type, there are a lot of factors to it. What are some of the challenges with identifying students who really need help with alcoholism versus students who just party a little too much? College is a time when you’re away from home for the first time. It’s a time for people to experiment; with their personality, with the way they’re dressing, with their social circles, and that goes along with drugs and alcohol too. So that’s not necessarily unusual but I think that our society sort of normalizes things. So you watch movies like Animal House and the Hangover… it’s funny, but at the same time I think it can normalize a lot of experiences. It glorifies them and it makes people go, “I want to have good stories like that.” And [in the Hangover] they didn’t have very many negative consequences in that. I mean the one guy was up on the roof and got sunburned, but they never show anybody committing suicide, they never show anybody hitting somebody head on… because that’s not funny. I think sometimes that
can make it difficult to figure out who has concerns and issues that are legitimate and who’s practicing behaviors that could lead to [alcoholism]. I will say, I am impressed with a lot of students who are coming in nowadays because I think people have better education on alcoholism and addiction. A lot of times people are coming in and self-identifying. What advice do you have for students who suspect their friends may be struggling with alcoholism? I would tell those students to talk with their friend and express their concerns so the friend can actually hear what they have to say. The friend may be totally in denial and not want to hear it but at least they’ve expressed their concern, and maybe they’ve planted a seed, too. I would also tell the students to go to the Health and Counseling Center and talk to a counselor and talk about their concerns. If it’s bad enough and they’re concerned enough with their friend’s choices. I would say to get the Dean of Students office and the HCC involved. And actually it may be appropriate for us just to reach out to that student to say, “Hey, your friend has concerns for you because she cares about you and we just wanted to check in. You’re not in trouble for anything, but how can we support you?” There are also groups like Al-Anon, which is almost like AA, but for family and friends of alcoholics and drug addicts. Those are good groups because they can help you figure out what are appropriate ways to set boundaries. I know about it because of my background in working in addiction. We say that addiction is a family disease. You have the IP, or the identified patient who is doing the drinking. But their drinking affects the entire family system. The IP needs help, but so does the whole family, and they don’t get that at first. But the drinking and the use has affected the family so much they need help again figuring out boundaries, making sure they’re not enabling, and actually dealing with the consequences of having a family member that has not shown them love or has taken advantage of them.
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Celebrities stuggle too, can help shed light on mental illness By ELIZABETH UCLES In March this year, model, author and tv host Chrissy Teigen opened up to Glamour about her postpartum depression following the birth of her and John Legend’s baby girl, Luna. After weeks of unwarranted shortness, body aches, sporadic tears, exhaustion, loss of appetite, self-isolation and exhaustion, Teigen went to the doctor and the diagnosis revealed postpartum depression and anxiety. The revelation of the cause of Teigen’s pain served as a massive re-
lief. “I remember being so exhausted but happy to know that we could finally get on the path of getting better,” Teigen said. Teigen recognized the importance of explaining her unhappiness; however, it was not a simple explanation to deliver. “The mental pain of knowing I let so many people down at once was worse than the physical pain,” Teigen said. “To have people that you respect, who are the best in the business, witness you at your worst is tough.” However tough it was for Teigen to admit to her postpartum depression, she recognized the signifi-
cance of doing so. “I want people to know it can happen to anybody,” Teigen said. “I don’t want people who have it to feel embarrassed or to feel alone.” Teigen’s open letter in Glamour is valuable and exigent in eliminating the stigma surrounding not only postpartum depression but mental illness in general. Publicizing the struggles of those in the spotlight shows how unnecessary it is to push mental illness under the rug. At the end of 2016, music icon Lady Gaga revealed her five-year mental struggle that resulted
in her diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Gaga’s traces the decision to reveal her struggle back to wanting to help those who are struggling with mental illness to seek help. “There is a lot of shame attached to mental illness,” Gaga said. “But it’s important that you know that there is hope and a chance for recovery.” In October 2016, rap artist Kid Cudi checked himself into rehab for suicidal thoughts and depression. Cudi did not censor or cushion his pain, he bore it all in a message on his Facebook page: “If I didn’t
come here, I would’ve done something to myself,” Cudi said. “There’s a ragin’ violent storm inside of my heart at all times.” Cudi’s honesty translated to his fans, showing the true toll depression takes on a person. In 2010, pop artist Demi Lovato was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and since then Lovato has served a role model of constantly battling and striving to be better. “I had no choice but to move forward and learn how to live with it,” Lovato said. “So I worked with my health care professional and tried different treatment plans until I found
what works for me.” Celebrities stand on a platform of great power — a power with the ability to alter the narrative surrounding mental illness. When fans watch their icons struggle, they become acquainted with the fact that mental illness does not discriminate. Whether it’s through open letters exemplified through Teigen or Gaga, or through publicly announcing current struggles like Cudi or continuing to demonstrate self-care like Lovato, celebrities have a duty, an obligation to shed light on mental illness.
Television gives new methods to explore mental health topics
By DUSTIN GEBEL It’s been said that we are living in the Golden Age of television. From complex and deep characters in shows like “Breaking Bad” to the high production values and gorgeous cinematography in series like “Game of Thrones.” Televi-
sion has grown from simplistic storytelling to works rivaling cinema and novels. One of the facets of television storytelling that writers and directors have taken advantage of in the last couple of years is the longer format. Rather than watching a two hour a movie, you can watch TV shows that have anywhere
between seven and 23 hours in a single season. This extended amount of time allows for the creative forces to dig deep into characters and explore their respective psychologies. A show that capitalizes on that significant amount of time to explore character development
is FX’s “You’re the Worst.” The tragicomedy follows two self-absorbed, selfdestructive characters as they try to navigate the world of modern dating. The two leading characters Gretchen (Aya Cash) and Jimmy (Chris Geere) are both introduced to the audience as terrible characters. While Jimmy’s blunt and insensitive characteristics are shaded through issues of father-son dynamics, Gretchen’s story is much more fascinating and compelling. It’s revealed throughout the series that Gretchen suffers from depression, and the show makes it clear that just because she is dating Jimmy, she doesn’t expect or think that being in a relationship will fix her life. The third and most recent season of the series followed Gretchen as she
battled through her mental illness, trying her hardest to open up to those around her and trained professionals. She is angry, bitter and lashes out every time someone tries to offer support or help, but on a deeper level knows that she needs to work through her issues. The series also explores the PTSD that Jimmy’s roommate Edgar (Desmin Borges), a veteran of the Iraq War, suffers from. An entire episode of the third season is devoted to a day in the character's life, revealing just how difficult the disorder is. The episode runs parallel to the one before it, deepening the understanding of just what this character is dealing with. The way in which the series treats these issues, depression and PTSD is extremely honest but still
manages to be respectful. Not only does the series thrive from genius and genuine writing, but the directing and cinematography allow the audience to connect and understand elements of these illnesses. Five or 10 years ago, these issues would never been explored on television, except in the form of after-school specials or a public service announcement. Neither format allows for viewers to connect and associate with characters suffering from these various forms of mental illness. Instead, the decision to explore topics such as PTSD and depression in such a harshly honest way, shows just how much television has grown and reveals that people are ready to start having conversations about these serious and difficult topics.
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“Diagnoses: Major depression and panic disorder. I’ve struggled with major depression and anxiety since I was in elementary school. The right side of my mask is actually from a text message I sent to one of my closest friends explaining how my disorders make me feel. When I wrote this message, I was in the middle of one of the worst panic attacks of my life. Because of this, I chose not to add any punctuations. It’s just an unbroken stream of panic regarding my depression. On the other side of my mask, I depict how I try to
By LILLI HIME
InSIDE OUT MASKS PROJECT
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Inspired by an art therapy program for service members dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, the Inside Out Masks Project is a community art project that seeks to show the commonality of personal struggle and ultimately inspire more kindness and understanding. The prompt asked students to consider whatever deepseeded issues they are dealing with, project them anonymously onto the mask and write a short paragraph explaining what they drew on the mask. Given free
range to use a variety of shapes, colors and other materials, students could creatively express emotions that they may otherwise disregard. The aspect of anonymity created a safe place within their art to allow them full disclosure, honesty and vulnerability. The masks presented here were a few samples from a pilot run in the spring of 2016. The Inside Out Masks Project will come to St. Edward’s in the fall as a campus-wide art project to raise awareness for mental health.
appear to others. Perfect. Most people wouldn’t realize just by looking at me that I’ve run to my therapist in a panic twice a day. Having both anxiety and depression seems like a bad joke sometimes. Depression strips you of everything that makes you feel, and anxiety throws all of those emotions back at you just long enough for you to feel your life is falling apart. Sometimes I relish the apathy and other times it makes me want to crawl out of my skin. But I will be okay. I go to therapy, I take the pills, and I cope the best I can.”
“Half of me is open and creative, and the other half is shy and scared. My creative side has so many thoughts and ideas to let out and can be quite an extrovert but at times is held back by my shy side. This other side is the one that is afraid to express myself and overthinks to the point of reaching anxiety and panic attacks. But regardless of these mentality issues, my eyes remain the same, because perspectives stay the same.”
“A personal struggle I’ve faced all throughout my life is that I care too much about what people say about me. I strive for positivity and to make positive impressions on people, but when someone says anything negative about me, I can’t stop thinking about it. It sticks with me. It brings a lot of negative thoughts and feelings of self doubt.”
“I am very emotional but in a way I can’t express. My depression makes me incapable of expressing it, so it causes me to be very confused as well. My balance is off and my good side is being engulfed by the bad side. My different emotions are in different sections of my head and they all swirl around at the same time. I can have hope sometimes though, and specks of yellow happiness may show up. Through it all, I still keep a smile though, and my eyes stay vacant.”
“everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.”
LIFE & ARTS 9
WEDNESDAY, MONTH #, 2015 | HILLTOPVIEWSONLINE.COM
“TK”
TK
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By GABRIELLE WILKOSZ
Sophomore Mallory Hicks was in the supermarket when she saw it. There, on a magazine stand, was a picture of model Ashley Graham in a dark purple bikini with yellow strings. On the cover, Graham lounges on a sandy beach as beads of water collect on her tanned skin. The caption of the 2016 Sports Illustrated issue read: “Rookie Bombshell: Ashley Graham.” Hicks was stunned. At six feet tall, the then-college freshman shared the same height and dress size as Graham, size 16. To see someone like herself on the 2016 swimsuit edition was not only unexpected but lifechanging. “That’s when I realized maybe it’s not necessarily bad to be plus size,” Hicks said. “It’s not bad to look the way I do, so why am I trying to change? And if I’m trying to change, what am I changing for?” For Hicks, this revelation was an important one. Due to an ongoing battle with binge eating disorder, the fun-loving writer viewed food as existing on a fine line between a comforting friend and worst adversary. Afternoons spent rifling through the pantry, or evenings spent finishing a whole pizza by herself solidified feelings of self-hate. Like Hicks, about one percent of women in the U.S. have binge eating disorder. This is marked by frequent consumption of atypically large amounts of food and difficulty with impulse control. Nationwide, approximately eight million people have some form of an eating disorder altogether such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia or related conditions. “I have had a really bad relationship with food and my body my whole entire life,” Hicks said. “It’s really hard. It’s so hard because food is put in front of me and I just want to eat it, and I can eat it all even though I know I shouldn’t." By about eighth grade, Hicks was aware that she wasn’t taking care of herself. Though she had struggled with overeating since she was a young child, her relationship with food became more drastic into her teens. One evening, while hosting an Oscars party, Hicks overate again. Unable to stop, she threw up only to continue eating afterward. “There have been points where I’ve just eaten so much that I’ve thrown up, not because I wanted to throw up, but because I’ve eaten so much that my body was like, ‘What did you just do?’” The realization that Hicks’ habits were a full-fledged eating disorder, however, didn’t come until she was an upperclassman in high school. Her best friend, recently diagnosed with binge eating disorder, described symptoms that sounded all-too familiar.
“We were sitting down talking and I just kept thinking, ‘This sounds like me. I do all of these things. I eat for no reason, I over-eat when I’m bored, when I’m anything,’” Hicks said. The healing process wasn’t immediate. Even years later, Hicks knows that the disorder will be a life-long struggle. Despite the condition coming back in waves, some positive overarching changes have taken hold with Hick’s immersion into a self-acceptance culture. In her pursuit of body positivity education, and with the help of role models like Ashley Graham, Hicks has come to embrace a journey of self-love over self-hate. While in the past Hicks hid her body with oversized t-shirts, she now proudly displays her curves “IT’S NOT BAD TO LOOK THE WAY with high-waisted jeans and I DO, SO WHY AM I TRYING TO crop-tops. She’s still working up to wearing shorts CHANGE? AND IF I’M TRYING TO though, she says. “No one should ever feel CHANGE, WHAT AM I CHANGING like they cannot do someFOR?” thing or achieve something SOPHOMORE MALLORY HICKS because of the way they look or their body type,” Hicks said. “I think a lot of people feel held back by their bodies because society tells us what we should and shouldn't wear, but it's really important to just not care and wear what you want and enjoy experiences without feeling self-conscious about what others think of you.”
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resources for health and counseling: University Police •Dial 911 or call 512-448-8444 if you have a medical emergency and need urgent assistance •Dial 911 if you or someone you know is at urgent risk of hurting themselves or others •Call UPD to reach the counselor on call during nights and weekends
Health & Counseling Center: (512-448-8686)
qpr Question, Persuade, Refer — three steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. For more information on learning about QPR training, contact the HCC
Confidentiality
Counseling services Hours: • Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Office is located on the ground floor of Johnson Hall • Counseling services are FREE for all SEU Students
Counseling office works with students to address a “wide range of concerns” including: • Anxiety and Depression • Academic performance • College transition • Illness or death of a loved one • Relationships • Gender Identity
The Health & Counseling Center maintains confidentiality for all students seen in the center in accordance with professional ethics and legal guidelines as required by state or federal laws. Counseling records are kept separate from educational records and no information is released without the student’s written consent. Information revealed in counseling, including the fact that you have made an appointment, is not disclosed to others without your written authorization for the release of that information. Exceptions to this practice are: • When the counselor believes you present an imminent danger to yourself and others; • When the life or the safety of a readily identifiable third person is endangered; • When a counselor believes that a readily identifiable child or vulnerable adult is being subjected to abuse, neglect or exploitation; • When disclosure is made necessary by legal proceedings
OPINION 13
Mental health issues more prevalent in college students than many realize
Every week the editorial board reflects on a current issue in Our View. The position taken does not necessarily reflect the opinions of everyone on the Hilltop Views staff. This week’s editorial has input from the entire editorial team. College can be the best time in a person’s life or one of the most stressful. The freedom to do whatever the heart desires is juxtaposed with constant deadlines and persistent pressure to get good grades, to get involved, to have a social life, etc. The sum total of these factors can, unfortunately, often lead to (or expose) mental illnesses and their complex symptoms. Over 49 percent of college students reported feeling hopeless in the past year, according to National Data on Campus Suicide and Depression. In the 2016 SEU Diversity Study, 41.1 percent of the 117 students that answered the survey, reported having a mental health condition. We are not in a bubble; mental illnesses can affect anyone. We use the term mental illness broadly to encamps a range of challenges from mild depression to other more serious conditions. These effects are especially pronounced among college students. 95 percent of college counseling directors said they have noticed “a greater number of students with severe psychological problems than in previous years,” according to a survey conducted by the American College Counseling Association. About 25 percent of college students have a diagnosable illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. While someone may not realize they’re men-
tally ill, they may also be denying it, especially since society views it so negatively. It’s hard coping with the fact you’re “not normal” as many neurotypical people so eloquently put it. But for those who are mentally ill, it’s difficult finding proper resources that provide adequate care. Throughout our special issue, students and faculty have bravely come forward with their own stories. Stories of struggle and hardship, but also of healing and redemption. Still, there are countless more stories that remain untold. In our communities and in our personal lives, mental illness is often misrepresented and misunderstood. From inaccurate representations in the media of those who are mentally ill, to the denial of mental illness connection in sports, the search for truth regarding wellness should be an important one. While there is no easy solution, as student journalists, we hope the proliferation of factual reporting will lead to education and change. On campus, St. Edward’s has resources for those who suffer from mental illness or are experiencing emotional difficulty. The Health & Counseling Center and Campus Ministry are two prominent resources on campus. However, in some cases, just talking with someone, anyone, can help. However, it is important that those who do not find solace in conversation with others understand that professional medical attention can often provide the best help. On the whole, learning about mental illness is one of many important steps towards creating a happier, healthier community here on campus.
14 OPINION
neurotypical individuals must educate themselves before offering advice By LAUREN SANCHEZ We all have periods in our lives when we’re sad, when we feel like we’re stuck in a rut, or just don’t know what to do. And that’s OK. There are also times where people we know are sad themselves or struggling. We feel like we want to help them, provide some solutions or relate to them in order to offer advice best suited for the situation. However, our experiences don’t always carry over to other people’s. What you perceive as an attempt to help can have the opposite effect on someone, especially when this language is used against mentally ill individuals. There are over 200 different kinds of mental illness from well-known depression to the lesser explored Bipolar Disorder, and people who suffer from these are classified as mentally ill. Those unafflicted are called neurotypical, which is to say their mind functions as it properly should — no chemical imbalances, no triggers, no compulsions, just a healthy brain. As someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder, having people tell me to just “stop being anxious” on a regular basis is infuriating and as fruitless as telling someone with a broken leg to walk it off. The levels of ridiculousness skyrocket when you tell someone with depression that they’ll feel better if they eat kale. If the cure for depression was hidden in kale and yoga, that damn leaf would be endangered by now and half the population would be sporting yoga pants on a daily basis. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a sweet gesture to want to cure our mental illnesses with just a few simple words, but not
only is it ineffective, it also displays a lack of understanding towards those receiving said “advice.” It isn’t the job of the mentally ill to educate the public either. The fact that you don’t understand our situations isn’t bad — we totally get it. Mental illness is downplayed in everyday life, so not everyone takes it seriously enough to learn about it unless it’s part of their major. But if you know someone who has a mental illness, and you probably do, it really does help to just Google how to help them in certain situations — whether it be while they’re dissociating, while they’re having an anxiety attack or while they’re having a manic episode. And if you don’t know what any of these are, you really should look them up. Not only that, but educating yourself on these illnesses can help you spot negative portrayals of them or help you point out harmful neurotypical ideals in everyday life. When films like “Split” and television shows like “13 Reasons Why” use mental illness as a plot device rather than a narrative, it’s a means of making the story move along and reflects poorly on the mentally ill community. In short, we in the mentally ill community know you are trying. We know you care and that that’s why you’re trying to help us by offering advice. But the fact of the matter is if you’re neurotypical, you don’t know the struggles we go through or how to deal with them. We understand that you’re trying your best, but you just need to learn how give us proper help.
OPINION 15
Professor reflects on personal loss In this, my last semester at St. Edward's University after 16 years, I was compelled to share with my students some tragic news: my brother had taken his life. I explained to them that my siblings and I considered his mental illness to be the cause of his death. It could have just as easily been heart disease or cancer that killed him at 61 years old. My mother died of cancer at 61 and my father died of heart-related issues at 85. Like heart disease or cancer, mental illness is not something that can be stopped by sheer will or faith. I actually had someone say that to me once, that another person's suicide happened because that person must have "had no faith," clearly meaning religious faith. I am uncertain as to whether that particular suicidal person "had faith," but, without knowing him all that well, I am certain he was mentally ill. Just like my brother. My brother was religious, so I guess "having faith" is not the cure for being mentally ill. "Having faith" is not the cure for cancer, either. My mother was even more religious than my brother. So you see, it is not that simple. It is just as ridiculous to blame and shame someone (and their family) for committing suicide because they were mentally ill as it is to blame and shame someone for dying because they developed incurable cancer. My brother sought treatment, yet he still died. My mother, the cancer patient, sought treatment, yet she still died. It's not their fault. People die for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes, it's mental illness. I know my mother got the best cancer treatment possible at the time. I'm not so sure that my brother got the best mental health treatment. In our society, we treat these two things like they are different somehow, that they deserve different levels of compassion and care. We all really need to get over that. Illness is illness. My brother was smart, funny, held down a good job, was a great mechanic and knew all about computers. He worked hard, paid his taxes and cared deeply for his immediate family. He was in regular contact with all of us siblings in his extended family. His
job was difficult and although I am sure the pressure bothered him, in the end he apparently could not escape the perceived heaviness of his life, a life that would appear "good" to anyone else. It appeared good to me. I'm sure he thought it was good also and probably was greatly confused and conflicted about having a good life and yet just not being able to hang on to it. Because he was mentally ill and that is what mental illness does to some people. When I told my students about my brother, it was my hope that two things were apparent: my brother did nothing any worse than anyone else who dies just from being sick and I am just as sad as any other person who lost a close relative regardless of the reason. I think most of my students understood. Many of them offered their sincere condolences. A few of them, those who had lost family members to mental illness, truly understood and were quick to let me know that they appreciated the way I explained my family's view of my brother's death. They also comforted me. They knew what it felt like to have a family member die from an "unacceptable" illness. They also seemed relieved and yet sad that someone else could now understand what they experienced. It is during times like these that I realize how much my students mean to me. I will miss their joy, their hard work and their capacity for kindness most of all. And I will miss my brother just because he is gone. Amy Burnett Associate Professor of Finance
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MENTAL HEALTH BY THE NUMBERS IN AMERICA FACT:
4.3 million adults experience MENTAL illness in a given year
1 5 50% in
adults in the us experience a mental illness
AND
of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14
PREVALENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS BY DIAGNOSIS
1.1% 1 in 100 (2.4 million) American adults live with schizophrenia.
2.6%
6.9%
18.1%
2.6% (6.1 million) of American adults live with bipolar disorder.
6.9% (16 million) of American adults live with major depression
18.1% (42 million) of American adults live with anxiety disorders.
the impact mental health has on society
90%
of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness
source by: national alliance on mental illness
SUicide is the AND
10th
leading cause of death in the u.s. designed by Paula santos