THE
Hudsonian Hud.
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FREE | Extra Copies, 25 cents
Volume 72, Issue 02
September 13, 2017
www.thehudsonian.org
PHOTO BY ALANA MUELLER | HUDSONIAN
THE
Mental health programs make it easy to ask for help By: Emmy Farstad Copy Editor
For college students with mental illnessnes, asking for help isn’t always easy. Fortunately for Hudson Valley students, the campus offers several resources to assist those who are struggling. Issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and ADHD, among others, can often create challenges for college students, and, in many cases, students may find themselves unable to cope with these struggles on their own. While Hudson Valley Community College offers a variety of tools and support for attendees, students may often feel uncomfortable reaching out for help.
According to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, 73.1 percent of counseling center directors reported “an increase in the severity of student mental health concerns and related behavior on campus.” One in four college students have a diagnosable mental illness, and of that group, 40 percent avoid seeking help. Hudson Valley student Acadia Pezzolesi, who suffers from bipolar disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, said she would be hesitant to reach out for help through the school, mainly due to the fear that other students might find out and treat her differently.
“I have no problem with people knowing I have a mental illness, but I wouldn’t want them to know I was reaching out to the school for help because I would be worried they would see it as a sign of weakness or failure,” said Pezzolesi. She also expressed concern that, upon learning she had asked for help, her classmates might not treat her equally and “wouldn’t be upfront with me because they’re afraid of how I’d react.” There has been an increase in the amount of students seeking help through university counseling centers. Boston University’s recent study results indicated
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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Hudsonian
News Channel 13 journalist, Elaine Houston, shares the importance of leadership skills.
Student leadership expo hosts local news anchor By: Zoe Deno Staff Writer Students gained leadership and networking skills, learned about academic services and listened to a keynote speaker during Hudson Valley’s annual Student Leadership Expo last Friday. The event began with registration and introductions by Jessica Gilbert, academic coach site supervisor of the Center for Academic Engagement. This was followed by remarks from Interim Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Regina LaGatta and the introduction of the keynote speaker, News Channel 13 Anchor and Award-Winning Journalist Elaine Houston. ”We look around at what’s happening because of division
SEE HEALTH PAGE 4
PHOTO BY THOMAS MARRA | HUDSONIAN
and a lot of things going on,” said Houston during her keynote speech. “We’re talking about leadership and that’s something that we really need.” “We’re wondering where the leaders are [and] where the people who have great ideas [are, people] who are ready to make changes and improve our world,” she said. “However, before you can become a leader you have to be prepared.” Houston’s speech outlined how privileged Hudson Valley’s students are for having access to an amazing education. She talked about how everyone had tremendous potential and encouraged students to make the most of it.
SEE LEADER PAGE 3
Students can seek out professional help in the Wellness Center.
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