College Students with Mental Illness: Silent Disabilities in Search of a Voice

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College Students with Mental Illness Silent
Disabilities in Search of a Voice

• Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD.
• Director, McLean College Mental Health Program
• Instructor, Harvard Medical School

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Definitions

• Silent Disabilities
• Hidden Disabilities
• Invisible Disabilities
• Interchangeable, umbrella terms that capture a
  whole spectrum of challenges primarily
  neurological in nature
• Not immediately apparent to others
• Affecting 10 of people in U.S.

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Definitions

• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Defines an individual with a disability as a
  person who has a physical or mental impairment
  that substantially limits one or more major life
  activities
• Entitled to reasonable accommodations
• Include chronic pain, chronic fatigue, diabetes,
  epilepsy, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome,
  rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, Aspergers
  Syndrome, and

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Mental Illnesses

• People with psychiatric disabilities make up a
  large segment of the invisibly-disabled
  population covered under the ADA
• ADHD, Anxiety disorders, Bipolar disorder, Major
  depression, Personality disorders, Schizophrenia,
  etc.

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College Students and Mental Illnesses

• Nearly half of all students will become so
  depressed that they will have difficulty
  functioning (see www.halfofus.org )
• Between ages of 15 and 21, nearly 40 will be
  diagnosed with a mental illness
• 1 in 4 students will suffer from MDD
• Nearly 80 of students who need treatment wont
  seek help!

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Whats Happening?

• Young adult brains and the college years
• Stress, stress, and more stress
• The Perfect Storm!

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Giving MDD a Voice

• Group Exercise

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Giving MDD a Voice

• Nearly 80 of students who need treatment wont
  seek help!
• Why not?

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Good Stuff to Know

• Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain and
  can be treated
• Recovery from mental illness is not a matter of
  willpower
• Stigma on college campuses is lower than 20 years
  ago
• Students maintain personally held stigma
• Talking about suicidal thoughts doesnt make them
  worse
• UHS Counseling Center Services Ross Center

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Good Stuff to Do

• Group Exercise-
• Cognitive Shifting

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More Good Stuff to Do

• Talk about it!
• Access your resources
• Dont delay
• Commit to a healthier lifestyle
• Check your thoughts
• Take a depression screening test
• Take better care of your brain and avoid binge
  drinking

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Transforming Your Campus

• Increase dialogue, knowledge, and awareness
  (e.g., Stigma Panel)
• Start a campaign for mental health awareness
• Join/start a student organization with a mental
  health mission
• What can you do?