COMMENTARY WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 • PAGE 7
THE BROWN DAILY HERALD
Reducing mental health stigma AMEER MALIK opinions columnist
Though there are not sufficient words to describe the tragedy of Hyoun Ju Sohn’s GS death on March 31 and we cannot know what led to his suicide, we can take steps to help members of our community who are suffering psychologically and who are not getting the help they need by continuing our dialogue about mental health. As someone who received psychotherapy during high school and through Counseling and Psychological Services at Brown, I believe we need to work toward reducing mental health stigma in our campus dialogue. This is an essential step to take in order to address the psychological needs of all members of our community. There is more than one kind of mental health stigma, as Graham Davey, professor of psychology at the University of Sussex, outlined in an August 2013 article in Psychology Today. First, there is social stigma, which involves prejudice and discrimination against people with certain psychological conditions. The second type is self-stigma, which includes people perceiving that they will face discrimination for their psychological conditions and feeling shame as a result. As part of this discussion, the Undergraduate Council of Students hosted an open forum Wednesday for students to discuss how to grow mental health services, better convey information about those resources and destigmatize seeking help, The Herald reported Thursday. In a December guest column in The Herald, UCS also contended that mental health stigma is an issue on campus and pointed to the fact that, according to CAPS, “25 percent of students have previously been medicated for a mental health condition before entering campus and 40 percent have previously sought counseling.” But less than one-fifth of
students draw on CAPS resources every year. To reduce social stigma on campus, we have to bring to light correct and accurate information about various mental conditions. Through this, we can dispel harmful stereotypes that are part of popular culture and reduce negative attitudes about various conditions, which can create an environment that is more accepting and comforting. When people with certain psychological conditions do not feel they will be mistreated, they may find it easier to reach out for help when they need to. There are a variety of methods that our campus can utilize to spread this correct information about various conditions. In its column, UCS called for annual “panel discussion, speakers and workshops facilitated by CAPS” to help expand conversations
they are going through. When I was very young and first experienced the aspects of my condition, I was scared and thought there was something especially wrong with me. When I finally found out the name for my condition was obsessive-compulsive disorder, read literature about it and received treatment, I felt relieved that I could make sense of my pain and found comfort in knowing that I was not alone in my experience. I fear that people frequently do not seek treatment because they do not fully understand what they are experiencing, and we need to remain mindful of this when determining how to convey information on mental health. To help people better understand the psychological pain that they may be experiencing, we could create informative pamphlets and guide-
In order to reduce social stigma on campus, we have to bring to light correct and accurate information about various mental conditions. about mental health and decrease stigma. I agree that these can be useful ways to bring important information out into the community. We should have regular and mandatory information sessions for each class and for graduate students. If feasible, such programs could be held once a semester or once a year — they could help make our transitions back to campus after breaks easier. Such programs could also encourage productive conversations about mental health on campus, bringing the topic out of the dark and making it part of the open discussions that Brown community members have about other important matters, such as gender, race and sexuality. Those who felt uncomfortable about attending these programs could be given other options, such as meeting privately with specially-trained peer or faculty advisers. Another advantage to spreading accurate information is that it can help people who are experiencing psychological pain better understand what
books that would be readily available in numerous places around campus, such as the Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center or the libraries. Electronic versions could also be available for students who preferred to digitally read such texts. Though we cannot overwhelm people who would prefer to not be reminded of their conditions, we have to make sure that there are multiple ways for valuable information to be obtained in order to address the various preferences that people have. But there are two problems that can arise from focusing on conditions with particular medical names. One, as Davey explained in his Psychology Today article, is that the medical model of mental health — with its emphasis on illness and diagnosis — can exacerbate stigma by suggesting there is something abnormal about people with certain conditions. It can be challenging for students to find that what they feel is labeled as an “illness” or as a “disease.” Though I was relieved when my experiences
were given a particular name, I do not appreciate the name itself, which implies that I have a problem that should be fixed. While certain aspects of my condition still cause me hardships and difficulty, other aspects do not strike me as problematic. For example, the fact that I spend more time washing my hands than many other people is not an issue, as long as I care for my skin with lotion to make sure it does not become uncomfortably dry. I do not think I have to change this particular behavior, though it is associated with my OCD. The second problem that arises from focusing on conditions with medical names is that we might inadvertently imply that only people who can put a specific medical name to what they are facing can seek treatment. When I started seeing a psychotherapist during high school, I felt wrong about discussing matters that did not relate to OCD. But through therapy, I have come to realize that I can talk about a variety of different matters that cause me psychological hardship, even if they do not directly relate to my condition. I applaud CAPS for listing on its homepage the various matters students discuss with CAPS psychotherapists, which include many topics without medical names, such as “adjustment to Brown,” “motivation difficulties” and “family concerns.” Therefore, in our continuing dialogue, we should encourage people who might not be able to put a name to their psychological pain to still seek help. At Brown, we strive to create a community that is open and accepting for people of all backgrounds. We must be considerate of each other’s various psychological make-ups. Together, we must continue our discussion about mental health. We have to pay attention to the emotional lives of ourselves and of each other, and we have to make sure members of our community feel safe and supported to seek the help they need.
Ameer Malik ’18 can be reached at ameer_malik@brown.edu.
The Republican primary’s first casualty IAN KENYON opinions columnist
In the last two weeks, one installment of the Republican presidential primary began in Lynchburg, Virginia with Senator Ted Cruz announcing his candidacy; another installment, elsewhere, died. At the Indiana State Capitol in Indianapolis, Gov. Mike Pence signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Flanked by nuns, monks, clergy and a rabbi — among others — Pence presented his state with the adoption of a law that will allow individuals or corporations to use religious beliefs as defenses in legal proceedings. Particularly, an individual or a corporation can refrain from a business transaction in the event that he, she or it disagrees with the prevailing religious beliefs of the owner. Criticism swelled immediately, not only within Indiana but across the country, as critics of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act pointed out that the law would allow for discriminatory business practices toward gay and lesbian consumers. It is true that Pence has not declared a formal candidacy or even started an exploratory committee, as several other Republican presidential hopefuls have already done. When Pence articulated his own outlook on his career, he admitted he prefers to move slowly. “I’m
an A to B, B to C, C to D guy,” he said in February at the National Governors Association in Washington. Pence’s career supports this slow and methodical climb up the political food chain. He won a congressional seat in 2000, became the Republican Conference Chairman — the third-highest ranking party leadership position — in 2008 and ran a successful campaign for governor in 2012. The media frequently refers to Pence as a potential “dark horse” Republican for the 2016 presidential candidacy, since he boasts a reduction in his state’s unemployment rate from 7.9 to 5.8 percent, cut business taxes while increasing the state tax
damage had already been inflicted. Across media platforms and spectrums, Pence’s political fortunes were being written off as worthless. Adam Wren declared the Governor’s “dream” was crumbling in Politico, and conservative pundit Ann Coulter told Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly, “I’m glad this Mike Pence isn’t running for president.” Some voices in the media countered this opinion. Tom LoBianco, a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, suggested that, “Now Pence is a hero to his base, and every Silicon Valley honcho and Hollywood star he stands up to only strengthens his standing.” LoBianco also noted that supporting such a policy
ments have banned state-funded travel to Indiana. In the entertainment industry, comedian Nick Offerman and the band Wilco have even canceled scheduled appearances within the state. Inside Indiana, the business community that looked to benefit from hosting the Final Four has been on high damage control. Business leaders have looked to make the best of their circumstances. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted, “The Colts have always embraced inclusiveness, tolerance and a diverse fan base. We welcome ALL fans to Colts Nation.” It may not be too late for Indiana, but it is too late for Pence.
It may not be too late for Indiana, but it is too late for Pence. revenue and presides over the nation’s fastest-growing school voucher program. Yet that seemingly plausible next step now rests miles ahead for the governor after what has arguably been the worst week of his career. Reluctant to capitulate to the protests of Hoosiers across Indiana and countless individuals across the country, Pence stood his ground and declared that the law would not be amended. Of course, he followed that statement by adding, “but if the General Assembly in Indiana sends me a bill that adds a section that reiterates and amplifies and clarifies what the law really is and what it has been for the last 20 years, then I’m open to that.” But it was too late. The political
in conservative Indiana plays well to the voters that brought Pence to the governor’s office. If Washington is all of a sudden out of Pence’s plans, there is still a race in Indiana that can easily be won. If Pence is to be proclaimed a hero among conservatives, his momentary victory is a hollow one at best. With the signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the business community struck back — and hard. Angie’s List, an Indianapolis-based online consumer review service, announced the cancellation of a $40 million expansion of its operations in the capitol. Governors from New York and Connecticut, as well as mayors such as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, have stepped forth and announced that their govern-
As 11 other states flirt with enacting their own versions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, one has to wonder why this issue is taking the stage now. Arkansas recently passed a version of Indiana’s law that is similar but contains more specific language. This law is not a new concept, as 20 other states already maintain their own “religious freedom” laws, including Rhode Island. Rhode Island passed its own version in the early 1990s after the U.S. Supreme Court reached a decision that would not allow Native Americans to use peyote in religious ceremonies. This law can serve as a positive example for Pence since the Rhode Island version explicitly protects gay and lesbian individuals, while the Indiana version ex-
plicitly makes them vulnerable to civil rights abuses. This political mess is an aftershock of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., a Supreme Court case that shook the country last June. The ruling, which allowed corporations to act on religious principle, was a victory for social conservatives in corporate America. Initially, Pence’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act featured language, or a lack thereof, that would have more easily allowed for corporations to exercise their religious philosophies. But as protests have mounted and criticism has been heaped on, Pence recently signed amendments to his law, potentially entirely undermining its intent. Pence is starting to look like a fish floundering in defeat. Indeed, former President Bill Clinton signed the first Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, but times have changed. Twenty-two years later, we find ourselves in a much different country and a much different world than before. Governor Pence, if you wanted to ignite a presidential campaign, you should’ve faced forward and not looked back. Perhaps, one day, you’ll look back and realize this blunder. Rest in peace, Pence 2016.
Ian Kenyon GS is a public affairs candidate with the Taubman Center for Public Policy. Continue the conversation with him about Pence and 2016 at ian_kenyon@brown.edu.