16 • Focus
About 1 in 4 Americans ages 18 and older live with a diagnosable mental health disorder.
Half of all serious adult psychiatric illnesses, including major depression and more, start by
14
years of age
The 18–24 year old age group shows the lowest rate of
HELP-SEEKING
With college’s balancing act between good grades, making friends, staying healthy, and having time for yourself, mental health can easily be left behind. An estimated 26 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — or about one in four adults — live with a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to Active Minds, a non-profit organization striving to reduce the stigmas associated with mental health disorders and foster dialogue among students about mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that stigma prevents people from seeking the help they need. Active Minds was founded in 2003 by University of Pennsylvania student Alison Malmon after her brother, who had been dealing with mental health issues, died by suicide. The organization has now spread to over 500 college campuses including a Northeastern chapter that was founded five years ago. It works with clubs like Student Government Association, Behind the SMILE, and Northeastern’s many A cappella groups to create events aimed toward advocacy and awareness in order to normalize the conversation about mental health. On Feb. 21, Active Minds at NU took over
1/3 of all college students report having felt so depressed that they had trouble functioning.
Over 80 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do in the past year.
45 percent have felt things were hopeless.
it up to the audience in case anyone who is moved wants to speak. It has been very successful, and we always get people come thank us after the event.” Jenna Malley, a graduate chemistry major, mental health advocate, and public speaker, was the last speaker of the night at Break the Silence. Malley chose to share her story in order to emphasize the importance of seeking help and early education of mental health. “I am currently going through a professional public speaking training program to discuss mental health and mental health resources by sharing my own story and using my story to de-stigmatize mental illness and also encourage people, specifically middle and high school students, to ask for help,” Malley said. Malley was diagnosed with anxiety at an early age and decided to co-found the Amazing Campaign in memory of her best friend Kennedy who died by suicide the summer before entering her sophomore year. It’s now raised over $4,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by selling t-shirts that say ‘amazing’ backwards so it can be read in the mirror. “We don’t think someone seeing a T-shirt is going to change their entire day and outlook on themselves and life, but if it keeps one person from canceling a psychiatrist appointment or canceling plans with friends, or if it helps start a conversation about mental illness by asking ‘why is your shirt backwards?’ it means something to us,” Malley said. For Malley, it is important to have mental health advocacy groups on campus such as Behind the SMILE and Active Minds to hold public events like Break the Silence in order to empower students and generate a healthy dialogue surrounding mental health. “It starts to tell students that there is a safe place you can go to for information,
“Having groups and big events to raise awareness point outs that [stigma] is a problem, and this is something we can actively try to fight as a community.” Afterhours for their annual Break the Silence event, primarily planned by college liaison Nicole Dill, a fourth-year criminal justice and psychology major. With Starbucks closed down for the night, the usual coffee lounge was transformed into an intimate setting for students who have personal experience with mental illness to share their story on stage. “Typically we have about 30 people at the event ... either just speaking from the heart or reading poetry,” Dill said. “We then also open WOOF MAGAZINE • summer 2018
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of
death among college students, claiming the lives of 1,100 students each year.
More than half of college students have had suicidal thoughts. Half of those students never seek counseling or treatment. and you are not alone in your plight,” Malley said. “Having groups and big events to raise awareness point outs that [stigma] is a problem, and this is something we can actively try to fight as a community.” Part of Dill’s role at Active Minds is to collaborate with campus organizations like Student Government Association to work with University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS) in order to make sure students feel comfortable seeking help on campus. “We recognize that it would be great for there to be more counselors at UHCS, better representation so that people can go there and meet with someone who they can relate to and feel comfortable with,” Dill said. “We want to make sure that there is a strong referral service because currently UHCS doesn’t have the capacity to provide long-term therapy for students.” Throughout their five years on campus, Active Minds has collaborated with sororities and fraternities to bring guest speakers such as Colleen Coffey and organized events such as Break the Silence and One Voice, an event in collaboration with the various A cappella groups on campus. The hope is that the events and general meetings will serve to open up the dialogue regarding mental health and spread awareness. “You don’t have to attend Active Minds meetings, but we want people to know that [mental illness] is not uncommon and to recognize the signs like changes in behavior, feeling something’s not quite right, no longer participating in activities, [and] sleep and appetite changes,” Dill said. “One of our previous presidents used to say something along the lines of ‘not everyone has mental illness but everyone has mental health.’” For more information visit ActiveMinds.org or @ActiveMindsNU Facebook page. If you or anyone you know may need help, reach out the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.