During his visit to Elon, Ross Szabo, CEO of the Human Power Project and co-author of “Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of your Mental Health,” urged a crowd of Elon University community members to move past the social stigma against mental health and recognize the importance of seeking help for themselves and peers.
“Mental health isn’t a problem,” he said. “It’s something we should all have.”
The social stigma he refers to is one that affects college students across the country.
The American College Health Association National College Health Assessment found that while an estimated one in five Americans 18 and older, which translates to more than 54 million Americans, will experience mental health problems in any given year, fewer than 8 million will seek treatment. The study also found that 30 percent of college students reported feeling “so depressed that it was difficult to function.”
To further Szabo’s discussion about peer support in early prevention and treatment, the Elon University Department of Health Promotion initiated Helping Students in Distress: Signs, Strategies & Resources.
The series of conversations and Q&A sessions address the signs, strategies and resources needed to support students suffering from distress or anxiety.
The Q&A is one of the many initiatives the department has provided for students, faculty and staff this year by placing an emphasis on providing resources for peers who notice signs of distress, as well as community members who are experiencing signs of distress.
The department has strived to bring mental health to the forefront of discussion on campus through various educational opportunities, platforms for dialogue and resources.
When Bruce Nelson, director of counseling services and Whitney Gregory, director of promotion and student concerns outreach, designed the program, they hoped to reach as many students, faculty and staff members as possible. On the day of their first discussion, they stood in front of an empty room.
They raised an important concern: students may not be aware of the initiatives and resources provided by the department of health promotion.
For those more aware of the extent of the problem, social stigmas could be holding back their comment.
Senior Kally Lavoie said that though she has never been to the counseling offices herself, she has heard about their efforts, which she thinks attest to the counselors’ attempt to spread the awareness about the resources.
“There are times where I was interested in visiting but was intimidated because I didn’t know exactly what services were provided or how the center worked,” Lavoie said. “I do also think the distance plays a factor. Some mental health issues could hinder motivation or ability to walk such long distances across campus.”
Gregory said the ways in which these initiatives are discussed play a large role in generating participation.
“I don’t know a student who doesn’t connect with the idea of stress reduction and focusing on coping skills and finding ways to support one another to be less stressed,” she said.
Help starts with peers
According to Gregory, research has shown that the primary resource that mitigates negative outcomes or worsening mental health conditions is person-to-person contact.
She said that one of the department’s major goals in these types of conversations is to intervene at a systemic and organizational level.
“If we can have these conversations with students who may be in the early stages of anxiety or who know somebody who may be showing signs of distress, then we can spread the word that with the right resources and support, the problem can often be resolved,” she said.
With student-run groups such as Active Minds, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health, and SPARKS, a team of responsible student leaders who provide health-related programming and serve the Elon community as health resources, it’s clear that Elon is making space for peer-centered discussion about mental health.
According to Gregory, these discussions need to be supplemented by an awareness of resources and strategies to provide support for peers in need on a campus-wide level.
“Elon students are incredibly involved,” she said. “But a culture surrounding staying up late at night to complete assignments or attend meetings can lead to high levels of stress, lack of sleep and impact on emotional health.”
Breaking myths and stigmas
There are a variety of rumors about counseling services at Elon, especially related to their cost.
Another is matching the student with the counselor, which requires careful compatability and planning to ensure a good fit in which both parties are comfortable talking candidly.
“We are fully licensed, trained and have years of experience working here and elsewhere,” said Bruce Nelson, director of Elon Counseling. “But our No. 1 priority is to get students what they need and if that means looking for resources within a 40 mile radius, then that’s what we will do.”
Sophomore Matthew Sheehan said breaking stigmas begins with students.
“A lot of individuals view counseling as an admittance of weakness, but it isn’t,” he said. “It takes great courage to make the decision to go and then actaully attend a session.”
Sheehan added that he felt intimidated while in the Health Services waiting room with everyone else as the only person there for counseling.
“I view it as positive but didn’t want to be judged by others,” he said.
Sheehan said his experience was positive and that the people he met were caring and connected him to the right resources.
Gregory encouraged students who may be thinking about making an appointment to simply try.
“It’s not about diagnosing some sort of disorder. It’s about identifying a problem,” He added. “It’s about finding the solutions for yourself and the resources you need to get to a better emotional state.”
Helping Students in Distress will take place on March 4 at 1:30 p.m. and March 19 at 5 p.m. in the Psychology building, Room 102.