The Lumberjack -- February 14, 2019

T H E L U M BE R JACK

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019

MENTAL HEALTH A SPECIAL ISSUE

Online at JackCentral.org

From the Editor

H

ello readers. Welcome to our first special issue of the semester — the mental health issue.

Here, you will read about services and resources available to people with mental disorders, as well as read someone’s personal suicide attempt. However, before this letter was written, there was no account on the perspective from a person who has stood by and watched mental illnesses attack the ones she loves most.

Over the course of my life, I have been exposed to my loved ones being terrorized by depression, PTSD, anxiety and a few other notable mental illnesses. I have watched a loved one be afraid of sleeping because of the potential dreams that could arise from her haunted thoughts. I have watched the most motivated and determined man I know become paralyzed from the depression creeping through his bones. I have helped clean up the blood trickling down the arms and legs of a 12-year-old who decided her life wasn’t worth fighting for anymore. And finally, I have sat in a courtroom to testify against a man with paraphilic disorder — the BAILEY one seen in most sex offenders — for harming one of the people I love most. These HELTON experiences now haunt me. They have shown me a side of a loved one that it pains MANAGING EDITOR to see time and time again.

The truth of the matter is, some of us got dealt a better card in life than others.

However, mental illnesses don’t just eat away at the people they are living inside of, they also nibble at those standing on the sidelines. But what’s important when being someone on the sideline is that you need to be educated and you need to have patience. You are not the cause of their illness and you are not experiencing their illness. Sure, it’s hard to watch — believe me, I know. But as their loved one, you have an opportunity to help and temporarily diminish their inner demons. You have the power to show love, compassion and patience in their time of need. So, do that willingly because although it may be hard, there is no greater honor in life than to know that you were there when they needed it most.

Thank you for reading.

Phone: (928) 523-4921 Fax: (928) 523-9313 Lumberjack@nau.edu P.O. Box 6000 Flagstaff, AZ 86011

THE LUMBERJACK VOL. 108 ISSUE 5

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Strissel

Managing Editor Bailey Helton

Director of Digital Content Conor Sweetman

Copy Chief Ashley Besing

Faculty Adviser Annette McGivney

Faculty Adviser, Photo Taylor Mahoney

Sales Manager Marsha Simon

Print Chief Brady Wheeler

Media Innovation Center Editorial Board News Editor Chandler Staley

Features Editor Collin W. Clayton

Sports Editor Molly Smith

Director of Multimedia James LeMarr

Asst. News Editor Ray Anne Galzote

Asst. Features Editor Pruthvi Khilosa

Asst. Sports Editor Amber Neate

Director of Photography Shannon Swain

Senior Reporter Owen Sexton

Culture Editor Sebastian Moore

Director of Illustration Katie Dobrydney

Asst. Dir. of Photography Rylee Flowers

Op-Ed Editor Peggy Packer

Asst. Culture Editor Sabrina Proffitt

Asst. Dir. of Illustration Colton Starley

Senior Photographer Michael Patacsil

Asst. Op-Ed Editor María Angulo

Director of Circulation Ariel Cianfarano

Asst. Dir. of Circulation Robyn Monroe

Senior Photographer Jack Mehl

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“Unfortunately, it is going to take another shooting in order to say ‘ok, yeah maybe it’s a mental health issue now.’”

- Tony Cullen, Flagstaff High School Principal

The Chopping Block is a new podcast produced by The Lumberjack and hosted by our Director of Digital Content Conor Sweetman. To listen to the podcast and for other news content, go to JackCentral.org. Illustration By Tyler Hammar

On the cover Illustration By Kiana Gibson

Corrections & Clarifications The Lumberjack is committed to factual correctness and accuracy. If you find an error in our publication, please email Matthew Strissel at mbs263@nau.edu.

PoliceBeat Feb. 4 At 11:35 a.m., a McConnell Hall RA filed a complaint regarding the odor of marijuana.

NAUPD officers responded, and a student was deferred for posession of drug paraphernalia.

At 12:27 p.m., NAUPD received a call regarding skateboarders in the Knowles Parking Garage.

NAUPD responded and informed the subject about the on-campus skateboard rules and regulations.

Feb. 5 At 8:50 a.m., NAUPD received a call from a faculty member that a student had passed out at the Wettaw Building.

Flagstaff Fire Department (FFD) and Guardian Medical Transport (GMT) responded, however the student refused medical transport.

At 1:13 p.m., staff at Health Professions called to report the odor of smoke in the building and a pull station was activated.

The area was searched and it was determined that the alarm was caused by workers cutting metal in the basement. Fire Life Safety (FLS) was notified.

At 4:21 p.m., an RA reported the theft of various room door signs at Reilly Hall. NAUPD responded and took note of the thefts.

At 8:12 p.m., a staff member reported the smell of burning electric wires in the Adel Mathematics Building.

NAUPD and FFD responded and concluded that the odor was caused by a hot speaker. FFD safely cleared the scene.

Feb. 6 At 10:26 a.m., a shuttle driver reported that a delivery truck broke down and blocked the roadway on South Knowles Drive and West Riordan Road. NAUPD responded to direct traffic until the truck was able to proceed off the roadway.

At 5:56 p.m., an RA reported

damage to a Target shopping cart at South Village Apartments.

NAUPD cited one student for criminal damage.

Brennah Brown Apartments. Officers responded and discovered the alarm was caused by a defective stove. FLS and Facilities Management were notified of the incident.

At 9:06 p.m., NAUPD received a supervisory alarm At 11:49 p.m., students from McConnell Hall. Officers reported loud behavior and music responded and discovered the in Allen Hall. NAUPD asked the alarm was triggered by burnt food. students to quiet down and the students complied.

Feb. 7 At 1:04 a.m., a resident of Feb. 9 Hilltop Townhomes reported a At 12:52 a.m., staff reported noise complaint in the general an intoxicated student at Calderon area. NAUPD officers responded Learning Community. FFD, and deferred one student for GMT and NAUPD responded possession of drug paraphernalia. and transported the student to FMC for treatment. The student At 5:30 a.m., Drury Inn was deferred for underage alcohol staff members reported two non- consumption. students napping on the third floor of the building without At 2:56 a.m., an NAUPD proper identification. The two officer pulled a student over on subjects left the building after South San Francisco Street and being warned of trespassing.

West Runke Drive for unruly driving. The student had a blood At 8:08 a.m., a student alcohol content above 0.08. caught a wandering dog at Sechrist Hall and called NAUPD. At 8:59 p.m., an RA reported Officers returned the lost pet to its a student trying to purchase a owner. fake ID at Tinsley Hall. NAUPD responded but was unable to At 8:52 a.m., a student at locate the subject. the corner of South San Francisco Street and East Franklin Avenue Feb. 10 reported a staff member had At 11 a.m., a student slipped on ice and injured their reported they forgot their musical foot. FFD, GMT and NAUPD instrument at the Performing responded and transported the and Fine Arts Building. NAUPD staff member to the Flagstaff responded and unlocked the Medical Center (FMC) for building for the student. treatment.

At 1:08 p.m., staff at At 1:11 p.m., a staff member Allen Hall reported the odor of at the Health and Learning Center marijuana. Officers responded, (HLC) called NAUPD after cited and released one student for receiving a suspicious phone call. possession of marijuana. A second Officers responded and concluded student was deferred for minor in that the phone call had been a possession of alcohol. telemarketer.

At 8:29 p.m., NAUPD At 3:51 p.m., NAUPD officers booked one student into received a report of a concerning the Coconino County Detention window decoration at Cowden Facility (CCDF) for custody of Hall. Officers responded and had marijuana, use of marijuana and the resident take the decoration tampering of evidence. Another down. student was booked into CCDF for possession of marijuana and Feb. 8 possession of drug paraphernalia.

At 1:36 p.m., FFD received a fire alarm from Campus Heights

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 3

NEWS

HLC programs help students cope with stress Ciaran Gallagher

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ollege students are prone to severe stress and can experience everything from anxiety attacks to suicidal thoughts and actions.

However, NAU students have access to mental health services at the Health and Learning Center (HLC).

According to the HLC website, they offer individual counseling, outreach programs and workshops.

These services are for short-term issues and concerns. However, any issues that are considered long term will have the patient referred to a facility off campus.

Katelyn Sauber, a student worker at the HLC, mentioned other forms of support that the HLC provides in addition to counseling and services for mental health.

“The HLC doesn’t only deal with just mental health issues,” Sauber said. “We also offer services that help students with career and academic issues, and pretty much anything that they are struggling with.”

According to the HLC website, 27 percent of NAU students reported stress impacting their performance in school. That equals to about onethird of students at NAU having to deal with such issues as depression, stress and anxiety. These disorders can become almost crippling and impact students in some of the harshest ways possible.

“The adjustment to college can be rough for most students, so we are here to give them the support they need emotionally,” Sauber said.

The NAU Campus Health Services website states that 77 percent of students said they feel counseling services are helping them live healthier lives and have made a positive impact in their lives.

“I think what they are doing at the HLC is very important and beneficial to students who are struggling,” freshman Jose Raya said.

“I have personally succumbed to pressures like anxiety and stress when it comes to school work. While it is not severe, I would definitely consider

going to the HLC in order to get the help I need.”

In terms of what students should do, Raya said students and faculty should be aware of any alarming mental symptoms or signs they may notice with themselves or with their students.

“It is important that not only other students recognize these symptoms, but also the faculty,” Raya said. “Many of these professor’s students are going through struggles every day and they get unnoticed.

It takes only one person to ask how someone is feeling to make a difference in their lives.”

For students to work through problems they have, they can see a counselor in the NAU Campus Health Services office. These services are designed to handle short-term issues. If counseling sessions exceed longer than a few months, then a referral to an off-campus facility would be the next step of action.

A few counseling centers that patients may be referred to around Flagstaff include The Guidance Center, Inc., Flagstaff Medical Center for Behavioral Health and Psychiatry Services, and the Southwest Behavioral and Health Services Flagstaff Outpatient Clinic. Much like the HLC, these facilities offer counseling and many other services to help anyone dealing with mental issues.

The first visit to the counseling sessions at the HLC is free for students. After that, they will be charged anywhere between $25 to $50 per visit. Certain insurances that students may have can help lower the cost of these services to around $10 to $15. Group counseling prices are a cheaper option at only $5 per session.

The HLC also has a crisis hotline at (928) 523-226 available for students who feel like they need immediate assistance.

For anyone struggling with depression or knowing someone who is, it may be helpful to reach out to crisis hotline workers because doing so might be able to save lives.

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Top: A directional display in the front of the Health and Learning Center points to different services the facility provides, Feb. 10. Bottom: Posters and other information line the entrance to the Health Promotions room in the HLC, Feb. 10. KJ Kluge| The Lumberjack

STUDENT’S – IT’S ABOUT YOU! Tell us what you think about the campus climate for inclusion and personal safety.

Check your NAU email for a link to the 2019 online Student Campus Climate Survey. The email is from the Equity and Access Office and the subject line is “Tell us about your NAU experience.”

Your responses are confidential* and you may enter to win one of five $100.00 gift cards to the NAU bookstore.

Your opportunity to take the survey ends on 2/26/19.

Questions? Contact the NAU Equity and Access Office equityandaccess@nau.edu 928.523.3312 *The survey is conducted by an independent organization which will de-identify the results and provide vital information to help measure the current campus climate for students and inform resources and activities to make NAU a better and more inclusive university.

THANK YOU! FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 5

NEWS

State funding for young adult programs lacking Trevor Skeen

A

lthough mental health impacts everyone, teens and young adults often struggle in securing cerebral stability.

Although it has been a year since the Parkland, Florida school shooting, mental wellness among teens is fresh in everyone’s minds.

Marie Stinebuck, the system director of Health and Care Management at Northern Arizona Healthcare, discussed the frequency and pattern of mental health cases seen at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC).

“I think mental health cases are common, more often in certain populations,” Stinebuck said. “We see a variety of people with mental health issues.”

One demographic commonly affected by mental health problems is college students. According to a study conducted by the Journal of Psychiatric Research, nearly one-third of college students are affected by depression. The research concluded that depression is one of the most common health problems for university students.

Additionally, according to a report authored by the Public Health Services District of Coconino County, nearly one in every two suicide-related hospital visits were for patients between 10 and 24 years old. Furthermore, approximately one resident commits suicide every two weeks in Coconino County.

Despite the prevalence of mental health conditions, adequate funding is also regularly overlooked in favor of other medical research. In order to make progress for medicinal and therapeutic techniques regarding mental health, more funding may be needed.

However, the state of Arizona has been trending in the opposite direction. In 2011, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) published a study on state mental health cuts. Between 2009 and 2011, Arizona cut 22.7 percent of its mental

Illustration By AMY CZACHOWSKI

health budget, which comes to $108.4 million. NAMI closed by stating that American mental health systems are fragmented and difficult to navigate.

“Financially, the FMC seems to cut mental health programs,” Stinebuck said. “They cut those areas first and I think that’s too bad. I don’t think there’s a big enough focus on it through the state or through the [federal] government.”

By having more research and funding, it may help to lessen mental health issues in the future. Despite this, Flagstaff is equipped with a limited amount of resources for providing assistance.

“One shortcoming Flagstaff has is good resources or placement options for young people, especially under the age of 18,” Stinebuck said. “The mental health facility here in town

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only has a few beds for adolescents.

If a patient needs to go to a mental health facility, they sometimes have to go down to Phoenix or out of state to get help.”

Particularly, teenagers and young adults are a group that struggle to receive proper treatment.

Local Flagstaff high schools employ counselors and try to create supportive communities.

Alyssa Settle is a freshman at Coconino Community College and a recent Flagstaff High School graduate.

She took the time to reflect on her former high school’s mental health programs and services.

“Flag high has outstanding resources,” Settle said. “Not only are the guidance counselors so amazing and helpful, but the principal, Tony Cullen, is also very understanding and

will work with his students to make a success plan.”

Settle depicted her high school experience as an emotional rollercoaster ride with numerous highs and lows. She shared her personal beliefs on how to combat unstable mental health.

“My best advice is to talk to your guidance counselors,” Settle said.

“They do their absolute best to keep an eye out for you and your peers.

Talking to someone can change lives.”

Although there are schools that are efficient at providing for their students, there are some that still struggle.

Northland Preparatory Academy (NPA) is a public charter high school and middle school on the east side of Flagstaff. With a smaller student population and significantly less

funding, NPA cannot coordinate mental health resources like Flagstaff’s larger public schools can.

Kyle Openshaw, a senior at NPA, addressed the over-reliance and misuse of pharmaceuticals when treating mental health conditions.

“I think medication is the wrong route to go in regard to mental health,” Openshaw said. “It’s kind of shying away from the problem instead of talking to the individual and finding out what’s actually wrong.”

Settle also shared a similar conclusion to medications for mental issues from her own personal background.

“I don’t think prescribed medication is the answer at all,” Settle said. “I was heavily medicated for a couple of years and all they did was put me in a haze.”

Settle acknowledged self-love and friends as better solutions to strengthening mental health.

“I think developing a true selflove is the biggest factor,” Settle said. “Learning to love yourself more than anything despite your struggles and downfalls. Having supportive people around you also encourages constructive behavior and positive thoughts.”

“I think family support is probably number one.”

-Marie Stinebuck, system director of Health and Care Management Stinebuck had a different take on alleviating mental health conditions.

“I think family support is probably number one,” Stinebuck said. “I think school counselors and help at schools is probably number two and friend groups also. I think it’s hard to support each other when everybody’s going through their own thing.”

Ask CharlÂże The Lumberjack advice column New from the opinion -editorial section

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askcharlie _ LJ FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 7

COMIC SPOT

8 THE LUMBERJACK | JACKCENTRAL.ORG

OPINION-EDITORIAL

The day I tried to end my life JANE JOHNSON

A source of support

M

ental illness is a battle that many people get up and fight every single day.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults in the United States lives with some form of mental illness, meaning a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. This can affect many aspects of someone’s life, including romantic relationships.

Depending on the mental illness someone has, maintaining a healthy relationship can sometimes be a struggle. However, this does not mean it is impossible.

In fact, relationships can be a source of foundation and support for people with mental illness, making their lives just a little bit easier by knowing they have an ally.

PEGGY According to a survey by mind.org, “three in PACKER five (60 percent) people with mental health OP-ED EDITOR problems said being in a relationship has had a ‘positive impact’ on their mental health.”

This doesn’t mean you, as their significant other, have to save them, because in reality you probably can’t. But if you’re in a relationship with someone who is diagnosed with any mental illness, it is important to take that into consideration and to be understanding if the illness sometimes gets the best of them.

The first step to having a healthy relationship if you have a mental illness is to be honest about it. You have to remember that this does not make you any less of a person and is nothing to be ashamed of. But if your partner is aware of your mental illness, it will be easier for both of you to adapt and support each other through it. It can be scary. What if they get scared away and leave?

According to mind.org, “77 percent of people with mental health problems surveyed actively tell their partners about their mental health, and only 5 percent of those people said their partners broke up with them when they heard about their condition.”

If your partner(s) really care about you, they are not going to up and leave just by finding out you have a mental illness.

And if they do, they wouldn’t have been a good partner for you anyway. Opening up is the first step, even though it may be the hardest.

Once your partner knows about your mental illness, they can have better knowledge on how to support you. Being with someone with mental illness takes patience and an open mind.

There will be hard days, and if you can’t be patient on these days, you will only make the condition worse for them. If they want space, give them space. If they want comfort, give them comfort.

Trying to talk someone out of their illness is not possible and it could only make things worse.

But as long as you’re dedicated to being a source of support, your relationship can thrive.

Editor’s note: This story was written under an alias for the protection of the writer.

I

can still taste the bitter pills as they went down my throat and the look on my boyfriend’s face when he had realized what I had done.

There was panic in his eyes as I began to go in and out of consciousness, I rememeber the way his fingers tasted down my throat as he begged me to throw up the entire bottle of Xanax I had swallowed.

The next thing I remember I was waking up in the ICU. I was still wearing my white fur coat that was now soaked with blood, and my cute, black denim skirt.

I remember looking over, seeing my mother’s face soaked in tears and the panicked nurse who couldn’t decide what to think of me.

She had just spent the past three hours pumping my stomach and trying to keep me alive.

To her, I was just a foolish child.

“Too pretty to be dead,” is what she had told me. I thought that was ironic. What did either of those two things have to do with each other?

After the initial terror of what I had done set in, I was ready to take the next step in seeking treatment for my depression. I had no idea what I was in for.

At around 3 a.m., a man came in my hospital room and explained what was about to happen to me. I held my mom’s hand as he read through a list of rights I needed to understand that I had. I would be taken into the psych ward for an indefinite amount of time.

Once I was deemed “well” I would be allowed to reenter society. I was placed in a wheelchair and rolled to the part of the hospital where the mentally ill were kept. Just thinking of this makes me teary-eyed.

The nurse stood with me and explained to me that my parents would not be allowed to come any farther. I cried and my mother held me. I had no idea when I would see her next. I was so scared.

The next morning I woke up inside the psych ward. I slept on a hard, plastic mattress that reminded me of the summer I went camping and hated every second of it.

The first thing that happened that morning was a nurse coming in to take my blood pressure. They did this every day, three times a day.

I did not want to eat at all. The food tasted like plastic. Yet I found myself in the lounge stuffing down a plate of powdered eggs.

There were several group therapy sessions every day. They touched on a variety of topics from what causes depression to how dogs can help treat these illnesses.

I didn’t want to leave my room that first day. All I wanted to do was go home. I wanted to speak to someone in charge and demand that this was some sort of mistake.

Later that night, my boyfriend came to visit me. It was one of the hardest conversations I have ever had in my life, trying to explain why I had done this to myself and try to reassure him that it was not his fault.

He hated visiting me there. We sat at the opposite ends of a small table. The conversation was stale. I think that is why he never visited me there again.

He hated seeing me in that state. We talked on the phone every day instead.

The next day I decided that if I was going to get out of the ward before Thanksgiving I was going to have to do something to help myself. I was going to have to accept this treatment.

Maybe I was actually sick. I mean would a sane person take 27 Xanax?

That day I met with a psychiatrist at the hospital. She was nice, but she begged for answers to questions that I couldn’t even answer yet. She stripped me of several of the pills I had been taking for a variety of issues.

The nurses and doctors there were so kind. They treated me like a person, not a patient. They would sneak me coffee creamer from the nurse’s lounge so that once a day I could have a cup of coffee. Funny how something so small could make me feel human again.

Over the next two days, my time there was spent participating in every activity that I could. I wanted to help myself get better.

The cut back on my medications began to make me feel good again. Less like I was in some sort of daze and more like I was actually alive.

I became a resource for new members to talk to and an ally to those who had been there longer than me.

On my last day, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I felt a certain guilt that I was being released so fast.

I did not want to leave behind the friends I had made in my time spent there. I felt guilty that I was going to be spending Thanksgiving at home with my family while the people there ate a freezer burnt piece of turkey, surrounded by people they barely knew.

Before I left, one of the patients came up to me, he was a tall boy who was around my age. We had talked a few times and watched a movie or two in the television room together.

He asked me how I was being released so fast and I told him the truth. “You just need to accept that you are sick, and do everything you can to get better.”

In the weeks that followed, for the first time in years, I felt my life falling into place. Now I get to bring my dog to classes and he has helped me tremendously.

Despite all of these things happening in the past semester, I still ended the term with a 3.0 GPA, which may not sound great, but considering everything that happened, I was happy.

Now, I try to live for each moment.

I want to experience all of the good things life has to offer. I want to feel everything. I want to be so cold that I shake. I want to be so hot that I sweat from every pore.

I just want to feel alive, and for the first time, I do.

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK 9

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Therapy works better than solitary Caitlin Burke

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he Guardian states, “jail is not supposed to be where you put the mentally ill or those too poor to pay bail. Nor is it supposed to be where African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Asians go for crimes that don’t land White people behind bars. But that is what [jails] are increasingly becoming.”

The United States prison system has more flaws than I can count. However, I think an important and easily fixable one is the access to mental health resources for prisoners who will one day assimilate back into society.

It is a sad reality that many of the mentally ill inmates in U.S. prisons are subject to inhumane treatment that worsens their mental state, rather than trying to get them the help they need.

According to The Washington Post, “Inmates with mental illnesses are more likely than others to be held in solitary confinement, and many are raped, commit suicide, or hurt themselves.” The National Reentry Research Center reports that 56 percent of state prisoners and 45 percent of federal prisoners have mental illnesses.

Simply talking to a therapist or psychologist is a resource that can ease the burden of trying to integrate back into society from serving a prison sentence with a multitude of mental disorders

like depression, anxiety or PTSD. and professional help for their illness earlier, the solution seems Although a whopping $43 billion was spent between 45 state obvious. prisons in 2015, as collected by vera.org, treating mental illness is However, it is uncommon in our society for mentally ill something that could actually save prisons money. people to recognize the signs and symptoms in themselves and The Guardian reports that “In Portland, Oregon the police admitting to needing help until something drastic has happened. department runs a mobile crisis unit that connects individuals Mental health facilities and U.S. prisons aren’t synonymous with mental health services. It offers medical treatment instead of because they’re not supposed to be. detention for people whose mental illnesses Prisons are not equipped with the or substance abuse problems result in ability to properly handle the often sensitive repeated encounters with law enforcement. and case-by-case nature of individuals These policies saved the county nearly $16 impacted by mental illness. It’s never been million between 2008 and 2010.” in the infrastructure of the prison system Implementing initiatives similar to to attempt to tackle anything as personal as the Portland Police Department will not mental health in convicted criminals. only save money, but will lower the rate of But I personally don’t think it is too incarcerated individuals in the long run. much to ask. The nation’s prison system It’s a worthwhile investment considering needs to evolve with each new challenge it that nearly 22 percent of the world’s prison faces, much like everything else in life. population is serving their time in the With the epidemic of mentally ill great country known for freedom and the individuals in prisons as an ongoing American dream. problem, the need for mental health If mentally ill criminals are being resources such as psychiatrists on staff incarcerated for crimes that could have and medication could make a world of Illustration By tyler hammar difference. been prevented had they received treatment

Don’t ignore the signs, even if everyone else is Depression, social anxiety, addiction and hoarding walk into a bar. They come to the conclusion that they all share a ou’re coming up on your fourth week of being sad commonality in mental health-related disorders and thrive off of and waiting for it to pass. It hasn’t. Clinical terms and one thing — isolation.

Warning: loneliness can be a trigger of all four ailments diagnosis scare you, but you’re not really feeling like above, according to research in Psychology Today. yourself anymore.

Sue Lindenbusch, the vice president of Wellmont Health Stop doubting that gut feeling that is telling you something is wrong. Even if it waivers, it still lingers in the back of your Systems in Tennessee, oversees the mental health program. She calls those who experience mental health issues the “invisible mind. population.”

Your mental health should always be a priority reigns “We ignore them until we can’t,” Lindenbusch said superior to anything else, because you’re worth checking in an interview with the Bristol Herald Courier. in with yourself every now and again.

Should you not seek the help yourself, you What could be stifling you may feel like will be ignored. Millennials and younger tend to depression. You can feel your mood changing be seen as attention-seeking, self-absorbed and abruptly from light to intense in nature or think over sensitive. That shouldn’t hinder you from that you’re losing your willpower to complete going to the doctor, therapist or even taking a everyday tasks. Look into it. day off to process what you’re experiencing.

Even if none of your friends realize that “Anxiety and depression are markedly your spirit isn’t as bright and easygoing, you higher than they were in earlier eras,” according to notice it and they’re probably not your real friends, Psychology Today. unless you’re successful in masking the things that are Thomas Curran and Andrew P Hill, two troubling you. authors at York St John University, published an This makes it more critical for you to seek article that leads to a millennial mental health update help because you’re the only one aware that something is wrong.

Illustration By Kaitlin gould in The Guardian. They believe that [millennials] are

Kiara Brown

Y

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“overburdened with a perfectionist streak” which can lead to stress and a myriad of other health issues.

This is incredibly true because we are in a generation that relentlessly seeks validation from others.

How many likes can I get on this picture? Which feature is best accentuated or hidden with this Snapchat filter?

Even if you are not a millennial, you can be burdened with a mental health issues.

I think the people born around the age of baby boomers, anyone who was given birth to around the 1950s to 1960s, are culprits of ignoring the signs of mental illness. This is a group of people where I have seen their pride kill them.

From my experience, I have discovered that some of these individuals will do everything in their power to avoid going to the doctor for physical health issues that can be fatal.

They’re especially not going to go to a therapist just because they feel a little sadder than normal. Most likely, they will associate that with getting older in age and will laugh at the thought of something like therapy.

No one is exempt from disorders of the mind, regardless of how old you are or how strong you are. Don’t ignore when your body or mind tries to tell you that your mental health may be at risk.

In the words of Lindenbusch, “We need to do better ... quite frankly, it’s hard to do much worse.”

OPINION-EDITORIAL

Paying the price for mental health up mental healthcare, “not only as a public health and human rights priority but also, on the basis of evidence from this review, ental healthcare should be freely available for anyone as a development priority.” who wants it. The barriers to receiving quality mental The review found that mental health interventions always health services are already so high. improved the financial standings of a household. The review also When seeking help for mental illness, there are the personal found that financial interventions improved mental health, but barriers of admitting that something is wrong with who you are. I less consistently. know from personal experiences that this on its own is a difficult Understanding the effects of mental health on poverty barrier to cross. changes the entire paradigm of success and failure. What could There are also the social barriers of stereotypes and biases previously be attributed to hard work, dedication, and intelligence that come along with any mental illness. There are physical can now be attributed to having robust mental health and systems barriers to finding quality mental health services and getting to support it. transportation. And, of course, there are economic Claiming that someone deserves to be in poverty barriers. only works on the assumption that there is something These barriers are particularly hindering because fundamentally and intangibly bad about the evidence shows that poverty and mental health are impoverished. That assumption falls apart with the thoroughly linked in a cycle. Being impoverished evidence found by mental health research. increases the chance of becoming mentally unwell and Individuals make choices that improve or worsen being mentally unwell increases the chance of becoming their mental health, but many factors leading to mental impoverished. illness are out of the individual’s control. The Center Understanding this cycle and how to break it will for Disease Control and Prevention lists trauma, become crucial to improving the health and happiness experiences related to other chronic medical condition, of society moving forward. genetics and chemical imbalances as some of these A review of scientific studies looking to alleviate factors. poverty and mental illness was published in The More research is needed to properly identify the Lancet. Its conclusion says that societies should scale- Illustration By Dominic Davies macroeconomic effects of implementing widespread

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mental health services, but the cost of ignoring mental health is too high by any measure.

One of those measures, a 2010 report from the World Economic Forum, found that globally, the cost of mental illness was around $2.5 trillion and projected a cost of $6 trillion by 2030. For context, the total amount spent on global health care in 2010 was about $5 trillion.

While the cost of most illnesses is calculated using the cost of treatment, the cost of mental illness is different. The National Institute of Mental Health says that the majority of the economic detriment caused by mental illness comes from, “the loss of income due to unemployment, expenses for social supports, and a range of indirect costs due to a chronic disability that begins early in life.”

What is beautiful about mental health care is that it does not have to be expensive because a community does not have to build a hospital. The World Health Organization even has to deinstitutionalize mental health care as one of its most important recommendations.

They also recommend incorporating mental health care into primary health care and developing community mental health services. This, in particular, has the potential to be low-cost, effective, and accessible to everyone.

Proper mental health care is a societal tool many people only recognize relying on once it is gone. As a society, we can at the very least give back these tools so people can rebuild their lives.

Where to draw the line with a friend in need Scout Ehrler

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truggling with mental health issues is often like battling a war against yourself, within yourself. I cannot instruct anyone how to fight this war, let alone how to win. However, I can share some of my own experiences.

Along with my own mental health struggles, I’ve experienced myself handling others’ as well. The way I look at it is, the wars within those who struggle with mental illness become the main focus of those individuals — things can be cloudy, decisions can be hard to make and people can be hard to please.

Among the clouds, there’s daze, confusion and even some selfishness. It’s hard to think about anything but yourself when you’re in invisible, excruciating pain.

Quite frankly, those who don’t understand seldom have enough patience to stick around or help. Those who do understand — family, friends, counselors — are likely to put in the time and effort to pull a friend out of the trenches. However, I often ask myself if there is a limit to this time and effort.

How much patience is too much to give? If the expended energy of the support system outweighs that of the subject of said support, how does one confront the unfairness of the relationship?

If a friend with a mental illness treats you poorly, lacks patience or

is irritable, can you blame them?

Personally, I tend to forgive and forgive and forgive again. I cut too much slack and allow myself to be taken advantage of in many situations. With the help of Zoloft and therapy, the things which prohibited me from standing up for myself are subsiding.

In general, however, I allow people to treat me how they please with little to no confrontation. Throughout the dozens of relationships that have come and gone through my life, I often — definitely not always — put in a disproportionate amount of effort.

When it comes to friends with mental health issues, I make excuses on their behalf and extend myself beyond my limits to try to make them happy with no reciprocal action.

We have all taken out our feelings on another person. This is not a novel concept. But in a friendship with a consistent and exhausting cycle of it, it can be hard to confront them or point out something that they’re doing wrong or something that’s going on. It’s hard to say, “I need you to put more into this friendship,” or “I feel like you don’t care about me,” when you’re conscious this person is battling the invisible war.

I think it’s important to give people the benefit of the doubt, to generously hand out second chances. But I think anyone else’s happiness is just as important as your own. In my experience, things becoming contentious when my happiness becomes depleted from putting another’s happiness before mine. I’m very hesitant to throw around the term “toxic” and I seldom cut people off.

I choose to remain in these relationships when I encounter them, something I may receive criticism for. I’ve learned that rather than blaming myself or placing unnecessary responsibility on myself, I can excuse others’ problems as their own.

I work to be the best friend I can, placing time and energy in the people around me in hopes of swelling their happiness, even a morsel, without trying to solve their problems for them.

Just because someone struggles with something, it doesn’t mean you must take responsibility for them. You don’t need to fix them or solve their problems for them. In all honesty, the people around you most likely don’t want you to do any of these things.

If you’re doing all you can, you’re doing the best you can.

Illustration By Ryan Hitt

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019| THE LUMBERJACK 11

FEATURES

Nature therapy The psychological benefits of exploring the outdoors Ashley Lohmann

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he Colorado Plateau is home to some of the richest natural environments in America. Mental health experts in Flagstaff are encouraging community members to spend more time outside, as doing so may offer a multitude of mental health benefits to outdoor adventurers.

Dr. Christine Westra, a resident medical doctor for the NAU’s Honors College, is currently working to obtain the proper certifications to become a nature therapy guide. Through practice of the Japanese art of Forest Bathing, or “Shinrin-Yoku,” Westra said she has learned many ways in which nature is effective for improving mental health. She referenced Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods,” and talked about Nature Deficit Disorder, a problem Louv claims is affecting many young people today.

“One of the sayings they teach us as guides is that the forest is the true therapist” -Christine Westra, Resident medical doctor for the NAU honors college “Louv uses the term [Nature Deficit Disorder] to describe a set of symptoms that some kids have, which look very similar to symptoms related with ADHD. These symptoms are heightened when kids aren’t exposed to nature. Kids who go out and play for hours a day in nature, like most of us used to, don’t have a lot of these symptoms.”

Westra said that in nature therapy, the role of the therapist is diminished, while the elements of nature serve as the primary facilitator for mental improvement.

“One of the sayings they teach us as guides is that the forest is the true therapist — the guide just opens a path,” Westra said.

“Nature gives us what we need, in a way.”

Back2Basics is a program based in Flagstaff which was created to address substance abuse and alcoholism in young adult

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FEATURES Top: Runners make their way down Sunset Trail, Sept. 29, 2018.

Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack Middle: Duck lake on the outskirts of Flagstaff is one of the many places to see and capture the night sky, Jan. 25. Elliot Lovell | The Lumberjack Bottom: A biker cruises down a trail in Flagstaff’s Thorpe Park Oct. 5, 2018.

Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack Background: A mountain biker rides around Duck, Jan. 25.

Elliot Lovell | The Lumberjack

men. The organization offers longterm programs in which participants, in addition to receiving primary care, partake in several outdoor expeditions each week. Founder and CEO of Back2Basics Roy DuPrez emphasized the importance of nature in regard to mental health and said he incorporates nature into many facets of his organization. “[Being outdoors] is a more comprehensive experience as opposed to being in the usual cinder block, hospital atmosphere,” DuPrez said.

The main focus of Back2Basics is to strip down distractions so that participants are able to focus on making successful recoveries. This process of eliminating the extraneous, DuPrez said, is extremely beneficial to anyone.

“When you look away from your phone or screen for those hours, you can kind of see what’s going on in nature: the basics,” DuPrez said. “I think that we’ve over-complicated our lives and haven’t necessarily gotten any happier because of it.”

Back2Basics found success when incorporating nature into its methods. DuPrez said many of the organization’s patients feel pride and satisfaction when they overcome obstacles presented by nature. DuPrez finds that, even in his own life, choosing to be outdoors often achieves a better outcome than staying inside.

“We all struggle, some days more than others, in terms of how we perceive ourselves,” DuPrez said. “At Back2Basics, we use this cliché, which is, ‘bring the body, and the mind will follow,’ and it’s so true.”

DuPrez made it clear that spending time outside may not solve everyone’s mental battles. He said nature therapy is best applied to those patients who are open to participating.

Medication for patients may also be required in many cases.

“It’s not that our program is the be-all, end-all magic to solve everyone’s mental health needs,” DuPrez said. “Our program works for those people who want it. I think that’s key. It’s not for those that don’t want it.”

Hannah Krivickas, president of the NAU Hiking Club, is no stranger to being active outdoors. Krivickas said that, like DuPrez, she values nature as a means to feel refreshed. She seeks the company of nature to improve her mental state.

“Spending time outdoors gets me away from social media, the internet and everything else,” Krivickas said. “It gives me one thing to focus on. Whether I’m hiking, viewing the scenery or enjoying the people, being outdoors simplifies everything. It quiets my head.”

Hiking Club Treasurer Brett Moll said the peace and quiet found in nature helps him handle his stress.

“It’s truly stress-free to be out in the

wilderness,” Moll said. “Day-to-day stuff is gone, and all you have are your surroundings, which tend to be beautiful in the outdoors.”

Westra said that connecting with nature goes deeper than the utilitarian aims of fitness — it’s about being open to and aware of our natural surroundings.

“Becoming more connected with nature has allowed me to better understand myself,” Westra said. “I think a lot of people are stressed because they’re trying to make themselves fit into a world that’s difficult to be a part of. We all judge each other by society’s expectations, but nature doesn’t judge. It allows you to simply be.”

Being connected to nature is not only

“I think you can have a healthy balance of modern life and being in nature” -BRETT MOLL, HIKING CLUB Treasurer beneficial for reducing stress. Westra said it’s helpful for reducing anxiety and depression.

Through focus and awareness of one’s relationship to the environment, negative thought patterns can be more easily broken.

Westra said forming these connections not only improves mental health, but is essential to the human experience.

“Go out into nature somewhere and really open yourself up to it,” Westra said. “Open yourself up to all the different connections that nature has for us as human beings. In a way, it’s about remembering your place in the world.

We all evolved in nature and we’re wired to be connected to nature. We are part of nature, and our practice is to remember that.”

Moll clarified that connecting with nature does not necessarily require people to abandon society in order to experience benefits to mental health.

“There’s something very nice about running water and toilets that flush,” Moll said. “The amenities of the modern world are amazing, but so is being out in the wilderness. I think you can have a healthy balance of modern life and being in nature.”

Westra said that simply choosing a more forested path on the way to class can have a powerful impact in improving someone’s mood.

While she acknowledged that outdoor activity isn’t a cure-all solution for those battling mental illness, Westra encouraged community members to experience firsthand the mental benefits of spending time outdoors.

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 13

FEATURES

Are romance and mental health at odds?

Paige Arvizu

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ove can be difficult for students to find and even more difficult to maintain considering the inherent pressures of college life. According to experts in Flagstaff, relationships have the ability to deeply affect students’ mental health in many positive and negative ways.

Andrea Meronuck is a therapist at Northland Family Help Center, a Flagstaff organization dedicated to protecting and preventing victims of domestic violence.

Meronuck said the effects of relationships on student’s mental health can be far reaching.

“I think all areas of our lives are affected by relationships, whether they’re healthy or unhealthy,” Meronuck said. “Relationships can also have negative and positive impacts on academic performance.”

Meronuck said, for many students, balancing school work with jobs, friendships and relationships can prove to be extremely challenging. When a relationship goes awry, it tends to affect other facets of a student’s life.

“STUDENTS ARE NOT SCHOOL ROBOTS ... SOMETIMES STUDENTS GET EXCITED AND MEET SOMEONE” - Andrea Meronuck, Northland Family Help Center therapist

mindfulness, self-compassion and exploration of emotions are all important.”

Meronuck said despite their challenges, romantic relationships have the potential to positively impact mental health depending on the fruitfulness of the relationship.

“Students are not school robots,” Meronuck said. “Sometimes students get excited and meet someone and it’s healthy. They feel seen and heard.”

Nora Timmerman, a lecturer at the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said that love is not always joyous — it can sometimes be a double-edged sword. She also pointed out the presence of relationship stereotypes in much of today’s media entertainment. She said people sometimes look to examples given in media to understand what their role within a relationship should be. The subtle expectations placed upon viewers can be bad for their mental and relational health.

“There has been a sexualization of the media that doesn’t reflect the wholeness of human beings,” Timmerman said. “Women are often portrayed as objects to be consumed. There’s a lot of unhealthy depictions of relationships on film.”

Timmerman said that stereotypes

“Every part of life is affected by an unhealthy relationship,” Meronuck said. “The stress of something that’s harming you and the feeling of not being seen, heard or valued can impact your grades, work and self-efficacy.”

Meronuck said there’s a level of vulnerability that is vital in relationships. She also said that vulnerability doesn’t come naturally to everyone — it can be difficult to overcome the fear of emotional nakedness.

“In terms of changing bad habits, having awareness of everyone’s well-being and focusing on our own emotional health can really help our relationships,” Meronuck said. “Self-knowledge,

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surrounding gender roles cause internal struggles for many Americans today.

“Gender roles really hold us back from connecting with and living our fullest lives,” Meronuck said. “We get caught up in these gender stereotypes and reinforce them unconsciously.”

According to Meronuck, limited ideas of men and women’s roles within relationships make it difficult for some students to feel mentally safe.

“We have to find a balance between masculine and feminine needs because we all have them,” Meronuck said. “People joke about letting out your feminine side, but seriously, you should do it.”

Timmerman said relationships have foundational requirements which must be met before they can be deemed healthy. Having a healthful relationship demands a great effort.

“An understanding of power dynamics, clear direct communication, having a sense of your own boundaries and needs as well as asking about your partner’s boundaries are all key in making good relationships,” Timmerman said.

Timmerman said people in toxic relationships are often unaware of

Illustration By PRUTHVI KHILOSIA

the negativity inherent to their relationships.

They remain in harmful situations longer than they should. While relationships do come with challenges, those challenges should not threaten a person’s mental well-being.

“A lot of people stay in relationships longer than they should,” Timmerman said. “It’s OK to have work in relationships as long as everyone’s needs are being met and boundaries aren’t being violated.”

Timmerman encourages her students who are in distress because of a relationship to be transparent with about their issues.

“If someone is getting out of an abusive relationship or dealing with serious trauma, it could be grounds for rescheduling certain academic requirements,” Timmerman said.

Cassandra Dakan, a senior lecturer for the Honors College, worked for many years studying human relationships as an anthropologist.

Dakan said she agrees that romance is a daunting endeavor.

“Relationships are supposed to be hard work,” Dakan said. “You have to care enough about yourself and love yourself enough to invest in a relationship and to feel good about it.”

With the growing popularity of hookup apps like Tinder and Bumble, Dakan said it has become increasingly difficult for students to find meaningful relationships.

“A lot of people on college campuses say hookup culture is a real thing, and that it diminishes those affirming experiences which contribute to improved mental health and closeness between people,” Dakan said. “I think that dating and hookup apps create this idea of shopping around and not taking the time to fully get to know people.”

These habits, Meronuck said, can lead to relationships that are engaging for a short period of time but are not conducive to long-term engagements.

“A shopping mentality can lead to a lack of fulfillment and a kind of perfectionism where we have to be good enough in order to be desired,” Meronuck said.

Relationships can be complex and strenuous. Finding a balance between the needs of the couple versus the needs of each individual involved can be a strain on mental health.

However, this balance seems possible to attain with the suggestions of experts like Meronuck and Dakan, who say that selfevaluation and direct communication are the best strategies for fostering healthy relationships.

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FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 15

CULTURE

Debunking psychological misconceptions Audrey Woods

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espite the media’s help in breaking down some of the stigmas surrounding mental health issues, obtaining correct information can be difficult. Local experts help provide the correct information to the community so that mental health is better understood.

Bipolar disorder, clinical depression and anxiety disorder are all forms of mental conditions. While each of these comes with its own set of challenges, it is not impossible to live with mental illness. Sophomore Stephanie Salas explains what she has been learning in her classes.

“There is no normal in society but society makes a normal and that doesn’t exist,” Salas said. “We have it drilled into our minds that you have to meet certain criteria in order for you to be normal.”

Mental health can be especially difficult to understand for people who have not experienced such issues themselves. Many of the symptoms associated with mental illnesses are seen as negative qualities in society.

For example, fatigue can come across as laziness and substance abuse can come across as poor decision making. However, many of these symptoms are far more complex than they seem.

“We have so much anxiety going on in us and if we don’t deal with that, we’re going to look for something outside of ourselves to make us feel better,” said Flagstaff therapist Ann Claw. “It’s either going to be a chemical, a substance or it’s going to be a behavior.”

Psychology Today reported that many people believe mental illness only affects those of a certain demographic, while mendthemind.ca reported that some people believe it only affects those who are emotionally weak or lacking. Clinical psychologist and NAU professor Diana Orem explained her use of the diathesisstress model when teaching these ideas.

“Most people that end up with

Ann Claw describes mental health misconceptions in her office at the Flagstaff Holistic Spa and Wellness Center Feb. 9.

Chase Warren | The Lumberjack

[a] mental illness are born with a predisposition and usually that’s genetic,” Orem said. “But depending on your environment and what you’re exposed to, that determines if your disorder is actually going to manifest.”

Misconceptions surrounding

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mental health are common among those who suffer from mental illness as well. While mental illnesses are typically a lifelong journey, there are ways to manage and treat the symptoms.

“A lot of people get much, much

better and so diagnostically we could say they are in remission,” Orem said.

“We could say they no longer meet criteria for whatever the diagnoses [are].”

Finding the right kind of help can be hard but it’s not impossible.

Orem said finding the right care is made difficult by few factors.

These include getting past the stigma of seeing a therapist, obtaining insurance that covers these health care needs and finding someone who is qualified to address specific issues.

Orem said finding treatment is often essential to living a satisfying life for those who suffer from mental illness. Speaking with a professional, finding proper medication and learning healthy coping strategies are all proven ways to address mental illness.

Although mental illnesses can be difficult to understand, Claw said there are many ways people help someone. She encourages people to be there for others by checking up on them and doing research to better understand their problems.

“For a lot of people it’s validation,” Orem said. “I know I can’t see what’s wrong with you, but I believe you.”

Claw explained that society furthers the belief that it is wrong to feel down, anxious or confused when it is actually a normal part of being human. This misunderstanding leads to fears surrounding therapy and introspection. Learning to examine and understand oneself is an important part of personal growth and can help anyone, whether they have a mental illness or not.

“I just think it’s the greatest adventure to go in and see what’s going on inside us,” Claw said. “What a great life journey to go day to day, look inside and say ‘what am I feeling’ or ‘how am I looking at that’ and be able to change.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 18.5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience mental illness.

Mental illness is prevalent in today’s society, so there are ways for people to educate themselves on mental health. Learning from professionals can help to debunk the misconceptions surrounding mental health and could improve society’s understanding of these issues.

CULTURE

Seasonal sadness striking students Braedon Huff

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easonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs during the stretch of cold, cloudy and snowy days.

It can happen to anyone, and some students at NAU are among those who experience it every year.

Some may dismiss SAD as just a small case of the blues, but if it progresses, the signs can begin to show. Some symptoms can include fluctuations of sleep and appetite, lack of motivation, increase in anxiety and anti-social behavior.

SAD usually occurs at the same time every year for those affected by it. If people are new to a climate that remains cold for long periods of time, it can become a big issue. Even if the weather starts to improve, SAD may continue to be prevalent into mid to late spring. Freshman Charles “Chaz” Stackpole has experienced SAD and has also noticed it in others during his first year at NAU. “I know people who have gone through it at NAU, and I have experienced it too,” Stackpole said. “It starts to happen when it stays cold and gloomy for long periods of time.”

Stackpole said because he is from Phoenix, he has never experienced something like SAD until moving to Flagstaff. He said it seemed like it was a difficult time transitioning between the seasons until the weeks leading up to finals and winter break when he started noticing the effects of SAD on himself and others.

Loss of interest in hobbies or activities is also among the most common symptoms. This may lead to students being holed up in their rooms for long periods of time, which can worsen the symptoms immensely.

Freshman Renae McKale has become aware of these symptoms in some of her fellow peers during the course of the colder months.

“Those that I know that have gone through it have gone through sudden mood changes that include loss of interest and anxiety,” McKale said. “They were always sleeping or not sleeping enough as well as becoming less social and more irritable. I think the hardest part about it for some people is seeking out a way to get better even if it seems hard at first.”

Senior Delaney Strizich has also been affected by SAD during the four years she has attended NAU. “For me, I usually tend to see the effects of [SAD] in the evenings when it gets dark earlier,”

A student walks through central campus Feb. 10. Seasonal affective disorder is a seasonal depression that affects people during winter months.

Michael Patacsil | The Lumberjack

Strizich said. “It makes me feel melancholy and tired when I really shouldn’t be. When it stays really gloomy outside, I just feel like staying in bed all day.”

Although there is an abundance of symptoms caused by SAD, that does not mean there are no solutions out there to help people deal with it.

Through trial and error, people that deal with the disorder have found what works best for them. Some of these solutions include treatments such as using happy lamps, consulting friends or family and even talking to a professional.

“The most common way that I found to treat SAD is to buy a happy lamp,” Strizich said.

“A happy lamp helps me to get natural light when it stays cloudy for a while. I have one that I turn on in the morning to help me get up and get motivated for the day. I also sit in front of it when I find myself getting down.”

Strizich said a happy lamp is a generalized name for a lamp that gives off natural light.

McKale has also seen what works best for the people she knows that experience SAD as it gets colder. She said self-care is one of the most important parts to individually manage the

disorder.

“Taking care of yourself can really help bring you out of a low place if you are feeling bad,” McKale said. “It is also important to be there for those people who are going through it so that they know they aren’t alone and they have an outlet to talk to.”

SAD can be a really hard circumstance to deal with, especially for students who have a variety of responsibilities to attend to. Seeking help or finding ways that work for treating it could be crucial to having a positive semester.

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 17

CULTURE

Left: NAU’s Health and Learning Center provides many resources for students, including counseling services, Feb. 10. Morgan Fisher | The Lumberjack Right: Information showing what the Campus Health Services provides help with for students, Feb. 10. KJ Kluge | The Lumberjack

Stress busting through mental health Tyler Day

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he brain is the most powerful organ in the human body, generating every action and thought of a person. Mental wellness can be one of the most important things in a person’s life and having a healthy mindset can lead to better outlooks on life.

While some people believe that mental health is a real thing that should be dealt with in a serious manner, others believe that certain individuals are trying to seek attention or that they could be faking their symptoms. Sophomore Karli Steiner said it is important to believe those struggling with mental health issues.

“It’s real and people do not realize that enough,” Steiner said. “It’s something that people really deal with and it’s important that we register that it is happening.”

One major outlet that people could use to help them is to hire a therapist or a counselor. To seek help from a professional can be a sure-fire way to deal with symptoms that are not ideal. However, like most aspects of life, these professions need to be compensated with money.

With expenses such as rent, books and food, money could be tight. Some people may find it difficult to come up with extra money to afford the professional help they need. Junior Patrick Garvin believes it is important to seek extra help, no matter the cost.

“Everybody has problems internally, but they don’t speak about [them],” Garvin said. “I feel like everyone has their own self-battles.”

Some students could be under stress that is caused by the hectic lifestyle of balancing school work and a social life. This may be the first time

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some students are out on their own with no guidance to show them the way, which could be a tough situation to be in. Morgan said all of these elements can put some stress on an individual’s mind.

Freshman Denson Morgan said that his major, physiology, allows him to learn about all the different things that have pointed mental health as a real issue. He said some of these things people can’t make up.

“Students are alone most of the time [because] they left their families,” Morgan said. “I think that a lot of times, the trigger for mental health is the absence of love. The absence of belonging somewhere so your body is trying to cope, and it doesn’t really work so it kind of freaks out and things happen.”

If time is an issue for some students, there are some methods that can help students to de-stress and to

take care of their mind. Other groups on campus such as Peer Jacks, Stress Busters and Paws Your Stress can help students out.

Peer Jacks gives students an outlet to talk to students who listen and have an open conversation with them. Stress Busters can help you relax by massaging all your stresses away in the main floor of the HLC. If dogs get students to unwind, then some four-pawed pals can help students pet away their worries. While all these programs are available for students on campus, Steiner said sometimes a good old-fashioned phone call can do the trick.

“I call my mom,” Steiner said.

“There is no shame in calling your parents.”

For anybody who is on the spiritual side of life, Morgan said that the use of meditation and prayer help a lot.

Junior Constance Gulden said some students may think college is about partying and the balance between having a social life and trying to pass classes. With too many eggs in one basket, it could lead to the feeling of being overwhelmed with little way out.

“College can be a lot of partying, depending on what you do, but it is a lot more stressful than people think,” Gulden said. “People are providing for themselves and trying to have a social life and passing all their classes with a job. It’s important to take [mental health] seriously.”

In the HLC, there are counseling services that are provided for students to assist them in their journey. Their website lists some of the problems they help with such as relationships, academic issues and substance abuse that could be common on college campuses.

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For a full schedule visit:

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For routes and schedule information call (928) 779-6624.

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 19

SPORTS

Our role as spectators

I

believe there is a general stigma about professional athletes and active people. There’s a phrase that is roughly mumbled along the lines of “go do something active.” We all heard it growing up and we all hear it when we’re going through a rough time.

To be fair, when you’re moving and playing, it does something to your brain.

The increased blood flow brings your brain all the good things it needs: nutrients, oxygen and the biggest one, endorphins.

Simply put, endorphins make you feel good.

So, if someone plays a sport as a job, shouldn’t they be the most naturally high people? Sure, it makes sense but let’s look at MOLLY some facts.

SMITH The British Journal of Sports Medicine SPORTS EDITOR conducted a study on depression in college athletes. About 25 percent of the athletes participating had “clinically relevant depressive symptoms.”

They also found that this statistic was significantly greater in female athletes. Although the study was conducted for the numbers, they summarized that college athletes are balancing two different lives. The life of a student is stressor number one and the life of an athlete, stressor number two.

This is a real issue that hits closer to home than we realize.

Last month, a statement was released by the University of Montana that one of their football players died from an apparent suicide.

Although we aren’t aware of other issues he may have had, it is important to acknowledge that these situations are not rare.

Terry Bradshaw, a former NFL quarterback and current TV personality for FOX Sports has attention deficit disorder (ADD) and depression. He often reflects on how he feels his ADD triggers his depression. He would get confused when new plays were called. When he was diagnosed with depression he felt a sense of relief.

Former Olympic swimmer Amanda Beard has spoken out about her challenges with self-harm and bulimia.

Finally, Clint Malarchuk, the former NHL goalie who is known for almost dying on the ice, lives with sports-induced post-traumatic stress disorder. In 1989 his jugular vein was cut when an opposing player’s skate sliced his neck. Soon after the incident, he suffered from anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He never sought counseling because it wasn’t common at the time, especially for people on the platform he was.

These people may have different experiences with their mental health, but the one thing they have in common is the existence of mental health issues.

They are athletes and because of that you may view their jobs as entertainers for your viewing pleasure.

Your opinion on that may be valid but, as humans, it is not their job to suppress mental health issues to conform to the pedestal you might have them on.

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NAU football helmets are displayed on a table outside of last year’s National Signing Day event Feb. 7, 2018 at High Country Conference Center. Michael Patacsil| The Lumberjack

The coach and player carousel continues Molly Smith

T

he NAU football program has undergone major changes in less than six months. It is known that former head coach Jerome Souers is no longer holding that title, but has passed the baton to Chris Ball.

When major changes are made in a coaching staff, it acts as a domino effect and revisions as a whole quickly follow.

After the Lumberjack’s previous 4-6 season, Souers and many others were officially replaced. Last week, a new coaching staff was announced. A few are returning, but majority are making the move to 7000 feet for the upcoming season.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Phlugrad returns for another season. Last season his father Robin Phlugrad followed him in becoming part of the Lumberjack staff. Robin Phlugrad is the most experienced of the returners with 37 seasons under his belt. This is his second season with NAU and has already switched roles. Last year, he joined the team as the wide receiver coordinator and is now assistant head coach and tight ends coordinator.

The next returner on staff is defensive line coach Everrette

Thompson who upgraded from his graduate assistant title.

Jimmy Beal returns for season number 10 and acts as the cornerbacks coach as well as director of football operations.

“This year is different already,” Beal said. “[Coach Ball’s] persona on the program has brought so much energy and passion.

Everyone’s energized from the equipment staff to the players.”

Having an even split of veterans to newbies, the newest additions have an impressive amount of experienced years joining the squad.

“It took me a while to hire them. I didn’t want to get in a hurry,” Ball said. “Since we’ve gotten here, we have not taken a day off.”

Robin Phlugrad has the most coaching seasons however, Jerry Patridge isn’t far behind with 33 seasons. According to NAU Athletics, 11 of those years were consecutive winning seasons with Missouri Western State University (MWSU) where he was head coach. Patridge will step down from his head coaching position at MWSU and hold the title of defensive coordinator at NAU. On the other hand, Junior Taylor has coached one season at Wagner College. There he oversaw the wide receivers and will Continued on Page 22

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 21

SPORTS

Men’s Basketball — The Lumberjacks are coming off of a loss against Idaho State University with a final score of 79-81. On Feb. 9, they beat Weber State in an away game 75-64. On Feb. 14, they will travel to Portland State to face the Vikings, then Feb. 16, they will take on Sacramento State at home.

Women’s Golf — The Lumberjacks will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada for a two-day Rebel Beach Invitational tournament Feb. 18- Feb. 19.

Football Illustration courtesy of Open clipart library, Pen Illustration courtesy of Pixabay Continued from Page 20

continue to do so for the Lumberjacks. Prior to his coaching career, Taylor played at UCLA with 1,372 receiving yards in five seasons.

A new season and a new coaching staff also means new players.

On Feb. 6 NAU football held a National Signing Day celebration at Twin Arrows Casino and Resort. The dining hall was packed with those ready to hear who the signers were.

“The family atmosphere is tremendous,” Robin Phlugrad said. “We’ve really gotten that point across during the recruitment process.”

The Lumberjacks left behind 13 seniors, freeing up positions defensively and offensively, and are keeping around 90 others after the 2018 season.

To make up for their loss, Ball announced there are 24 members a part of the recruiting class. Thirteen players were recruited on offense and the remaining 11 on defense.

As spectators of another losing season, it was difficult to hone in on what position needed help. The past few years the team relied on the Case Cookus and Emmanuel Butler duo. This season Butler is off on different adventures, leaving behind Cookus.

In early February, Butler received an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine. It is about a week-long event where, this year, almost 400 players will be examined by NFL staff on their capabilities physically and mentally.

Meanwhile Cookus is in Flagstaff for one last season. Cookus has held the first-string quarterback position since 2015. Through many injuries, he made the coaching staff sift through players to find someone to fill his position temporarily. Freshman Gino Campiotti, who was recruited as a quarterback, and Brandon

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Porter, who was recruited as a wide receiver however, each had game time as quarterbacks.

The 2019 season will officially be Cookus’ last season. If the new coaching staff wanted to prepare for the future, they would have had to start recruiting quarterbacks now.

Two quarterbacks signed with NAU on National Signing Day — Dawson McPeak and Jeff Widener.

McPeak hails from Yuba City, California and finished his final high school season 7-6 overall and 27 touchdown passes.

Widener comes to NAU from Apple Valley, California off of a 10-2 season, 53 touchdown passes and 3629 yards.

Both young players signed during the early signing period in December alongside three others, placing emphasis on the urgency for quarterbacks.

“These guys have done an unbelievable job with this recruiting class,” Ball said. “We know how difficult it can be to convince someone to ask their sons to be away from home. But [the coaching staff] did it and got some great players.”

As the winter fades away, spring practices for returning players begin. Their continuous workout regimens transition from the weight room to the field. The boys slowly work their way into full pads and helmets before practices begin entirely. After a couple weeks of outdoor practice, the football team transitions to the Walkup Skydome for the first time of the semester. They host a spring game — game being used loosely. It is intersquad scrimmage style and the team jumps around through different game-like drills and scenarios.

It is not rare for incoming freshmen to complete high school early to get a head start with their new team, but none of the 24 recruits have declared that as their plan yet. The 2019 spring game has yet to be announced.

Track and Field — The Lumberjacks participated in two different two-day tournament meets at Iowa State University for the Iowa State Classic and New Mexico State for the Don Kirby Invitational. Freshman Brodey Hasty placed third in the men’s 3000-meter race at the Iowa State Classic. On Feb. 15, the team will host NAU Tune Up at home.

Women’s Basketball — The Lumberjacks had back-to-back victories against Idaho State, 81-77 and Weber State, 75-64. On Feb. 14, they will take on Portland State at home, then host Sacramento State Feb. 16.

Women’s Tennis— The Lumberjacks won 6-1 against Mesa Community College and beat New Mexico State 4-2 Feb. 8.

They will travel to Las Vegas Feb. 14 to face the Rebels.

FEB. 14, 2019 - FEB. 20, 2019 | THE LUMBERJACK 23

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