Happy minds are healthy minds

According to a Healthy Minds study conducted last spring by Daniel Eisenberg, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, 38 percent of University students reported needing help for mental health problems in the past year. The results of the questionnaire distributed by Eisenberg and his team found that 19 percent met the criteria for depression and or anxiety and 6 percent had serious thoughts about committing suicide.

Despite the high numbers, mental health is not an issue that most students give much thought to, said Lenny Carter, a mental health professional at Counseling and Psychological Services.

“You want to do well with grades and participate in extracurricular activities, so [your mental health] tends to be something that you don’t think about until you are in a crisis yourself,” he said. It is a common problem for students to de-identify and think, “Maybe I’ll get lucky and won’t have a problem,” he added.

According to the survey, 48 percent of University students reported they believe most people would think less of someone who chose to receive mental health treatment and 50 percent believed that most people would view mental illness as a sign of personal failure. When students were asked, however, if they would think less of others who suffered from mental illness and chose to seek mental health treatment, the percentages were much lower, CAPS Director Russ Federman said.

“Whether it is based on a cultural basis or a personal one, students are many times afraid to admit and seek help for issues like depression and anxiety,” said Shanel Beard, peer educator for Resolving Issues through Support and Education and fourth-year College student.

Despite their supposed unwillingness to talk about mental illness, students who have suffered mental health problems believe that communication is important to remedy the illness.

An anonymous University student, who suffered from anxiety, said being aware of symptoms and treatment options is crucial. She said she “would have done better in school, been happier, expanded on friendships and experiences” had she been better in tune with her mental health.

“If you are not doing well emotionally, it will get in the way of doing well academically,” Federman said.

No one group is at greater risk than another for poor mental health, Beard said, adding it is necessary for students to follow the appropriate methods to achieve mental wellness. “You deal with mental disorders like you would deal with a cold — recognize it, seek help, and take the necessary steps to get better,” she said.

The anonymous University student said she hopes that people “understand that mental health issues are just as debilitating as a sickness like the flu or a broken leg, just in a different way. You would do everything in your power to physically make yourself feel better.”

Students who choose to seek treatment often achieve mental wellness, Carter said.

Additionally, another anonymous University student suffering from depression said it is important for students who are suffering from mental health problems to know that they are not alone and that it is important they reach out for help, adding that students can find support through family members, friends and mental health professionals.

“There are a lot of paths to mental wellness,” the student said.