How Peer Support Can Increase Student Mental Health

A number of great interventions for improving student mental health have been gaining recognition lately.  Among them, increased mental health services in schools and universities, links to off-campus therapists, anti-stigma campaigns, and numerous efforts at raising awareness of mental health issues.

One helpful strategy for improving mental health that has not gotten as much attention as it deserves is peer support. A number of peer support programs are popping up across the country and throughout the U.K. and Canada, with the aim of filling some of the gaps in mental health support for university students. Particularly on campus where counseling staff and other providers struggle to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for mental health services, peer support is another tool to help students cope with stress and anxiety.

State of Emergency

About 13% of young people suffer from mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to ADHD and other disorders that can impact them well into adulthood. While some stress is normal, youth ages 15-19 experience the highest rates of emerging depression of any age group. These issues are often exacerbated by the move from high school to college. Recent research has uncovered the fact that 6% of undergrads and 4% of grad students consider suicide while attending university.

How Peer Support Can Help

In the mental health world, peer support programs allow individuals who have already experienced a high level of recovery, to assist others who are not as far along on their journey. Peer supporters use their experiences and successes to help others navigate mild mental health issues. The idea behind peer support in universities is similar. Connecting with peer supporters or mentors can help students feel less alone. It is natural for young people to reach out to friends when they are struggling, but if one has just moved to a new city to attend college, it can be easy to feel swept up in a sea of new faces. Peer support can ground new students and give them a sense of familiarity, someone to ask when they have questions, or even just someone to vent to when they feel overwhelmed. Those who have received support can later return the favor by helping other students. This creates a support network that can benefit everyone involved.  

Peer support can be particularly helpful in the case of first generation college students whose parents are not as adept at offering support as they move through the maze of financial aid paperwork, online course registration, dorm room selection, and maneuvering around campus (or even a new town). Is such cases, peer support can make all the difference. Having the ear and support of someone who has experience with university life and who also understands the stress factors unique to a college student can be reassuring and beneficial.

Making Mental Wellness a Priority

Demand for mental health services is at an all-time high. The evidence is clear: we are experiencing a mental health crisis. The more resources young people have available to them, the better their chances of overcoming anxiety and depression. While peer support cannot replace the help of an experienced mental health professional, it can help ease the stress of transition and provide an extra level of support for individuals struggling with anxiety. Reaching out to others is an important step toward greater wellness.

Sincerely,

Eileen Wynne PhD

References:
http://www.ibtimes.com/how-help-college-students-experiencing-mental-distress-including-suicidal-thoughts-2577859
http://www.thepublicopinion.com/neighbors/spotting-mental-health-issues-in-college-students/article_fb609538-7ea5-11e7-ad32-4fe92fbee05b.html

Embarking on Your Journey: tips for college freshmen

Starting college is one of the most exciting times in a young adult's life. It is a time of unprecedented freedom and excitement.   It begins a new chapter of your life where you make your own choices and taking complete responsibility for yourself and your behavior. No one is there to remind you to eat and get enough sleep or wake up in time for class. You are in control. 

Freshman year can be amazing and full of wonderful new experiences. It can also feel lonely and overwhelming. The new pressures to manage your own space, deal with roommates, effectively manage time, get good grades, and take care of everything else that comes along, can take a toll. When not managed properly, these new pressures can lead to anxiety, stress, and even depression.  

Below I have outlined some of the big challenges facing new freshmen with coping tips for each. 

Unfamiliar People and Surroundings

In the first year of college, everything is new. You are at a new school, may have a new home, and people are unfamiliar. The structure of classes is new. The level of responsibility and lack of accountability can be disarming for freshmen who are used to teachers who know them and know when they have missed an assignment. There are all kinds of new things to adjust to. It can feel lonely and overwhelming when college begins. Homesickness is not uncommon. 

Coping Tips: It may seem counterintuitive, but getting involved in a study group or a team activity can be the best remedy for all the unfamiliarity. Since new students are all in it together, you will find that bonds are formed quickly and before you know it, you will have a home away from home. Having a weekly dinner with a roommate or classmate can also help give you something to look forward to and make you feel less alone. Finally, getting together with anyone you might know from home can keep you feeling connected to your roots as you get established in your new place. It may take a semester to get used to the format of college. Make sure to discuss your challenges with professors or visit an academic advisor if you are struggling. 

Unstructured Time

It can be tempting to stay up all night and sleep in late on the days you don't have any classes. Many freshmen sleep too much and overeat during the first year away. The wide open days can be difficult if you have not yet made friends and it may seem that sleeping and eating break up the monotony of studying and going to class. 

Coping Tips: Try to set a schedule for yourself. Getting to bed at relatively the same time each evening and getting up at a reasonable hour in the morning will help you feel less like you are lost in an endless stream of days. Make sure to set aside time to study. If you need to break up the day, head to the library or a cafe to study, or go out for a walk. Additionally, eating three regular meals a day instead of snacking and eating at random hours will help avoid the dreaded freshman weight gain which can cause added anxiety. 

Alcohol

Approximately 80% of college student drink. And though only about a quarter of students who drink regularly report academic issues and many students who drink in college do not develop addictions, drinking it is still a concern. Drinking can lead to reckless behavior and put young folks in dangerous situations.  

Coping Tips: If you are underage, you should avoid drinking. If you feel that you will be pressured to drink it may be safest to avoid parties and gatherings where there is drinking. If you decide to drink, make sure that you are with people you trust. Don't take alcoholic drinks from strangers and keep an eye out for friends at all times. Never drive or get into a car with someone who has been drinking. 

Relationships and Sex

The freedom of having their own space leads many people to get closer to significant others faster than they might have when they lived at their parents' homes.  Relationships can move too quickly causing one or both participants to feel hurt or awkward. The availability of alcohol can lead to unplanned sexual encounters which can have a big emotional impact.

Coping Tips:  Take it slow with relationships, there is no rush. If you are sexually active, take advantage of your university's health center and get information about practicing safe sex. Make sure to reach out to trusted friends and campus counseling services if you need support for the emotional issues that accompany your relationships.  

High Levels of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress 

Now more than any time in the past, university students are dealing with anxiety, stress, and depression. There are many theories about why young adults are struggling with more mental health issues now than in years past. It is difficult to pinpoint, but many of the factors noted above can contribute to these challenges. 

Coping Tips: There are a number of things that you can do to help with stress and anxiety: get adequate sleep, eat well-balanced meals,  avoid junk food and alcohol, and get regular exercise, for starters. You can also practice relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation. If your emotions are still too much to manage, remember, many campuses have mental health clinics.  Additionally, there are often peer support groups you can join if you are struggling with stress and anxiety.  If you think you may be depressed or if you feel hopeless or suicidal, it is very important that you let your family know and see a professional as soon as possible. 

For many young people, college is the first taste of adulthood. It is not uncommon to experience the freshman blues. A bit of self-care and practical coping strategies can make this transition much easier. 

Are you a university student looking for academic support or help figuring out what direction to head in? 

I can help!

Formerly on staff at the Tulane Student & Health Center of Psychiatry, helping emerging adults uncover the best path to success is my passion. I am a professional psychotherapist and I specialize in academic and life coaching. I work primarily with college students and young professionals. I would love to put my expertise as a certified success coach to work for you.  

Sincerely, 

Dr. Eileen Wynne

Neverland: The alarming new trend with Millennial men

Recently there have been several articles in prominent publications and television news pieces about the alarming trend of young men failing to launch into adulthood.  Many of the articles look at this disturbing trend from the angle that positions young women as more ambitious and better educated than their male counterparts making the story seem like a positive one. In reality, even though celebrating the achievements of young women is wonderful and vitally important to our society, the fact that it seems to be happening at the expense of young men, or in contrast to the dramatic decrease in motivation of males, is a very real problem with potentially far-reaching consequences. Women are not getting ahead strictly on the basis of increased effort, though they are definitely working hard. There is another factor at play that we could not have predicted.

According to a recent article in the UK’s Daily Mail, new research shows that The U.S. “is producing a generation of 'lost boys' who lack the drive to start their careers and instead drop out of college and end up languishing in their parents' basements surfing the internet.” This assessment may seem harsh, but the data backs it up. Women are earning a larger percentage of degrees than their male counterparts. In addition, between 1970-2007 women’s salaries have increased by 44%, while men have only seen a 6% increase. While this increase may point to the equalizing of the pay gap in society, it may also be a component in the lack of motivation we are seeing in young men. The unemployment rate for young men has also increased. From about 5% in 1950 to what we are currently experiencing, the highest recorded rate of  20%.

% Degrees Earned by Gender

Implications for greater society

An article posted by CNN linked this new set of behaviors, lack of motivation, and failure to mature to larger issues; to things like men being more distant from family and out-of-wedlock birthrates.  The educational gender gap also means that there are more females in college than males, and they have been called the new economic underclass as many young men may fall behind losing prospects for partnership. In fact, we are already seeing and an increasing number of young couples are delaying marriage or foregoing it altogether. Studies have shown that men between the ages of 18-34 spend more of their time playing video games than those who are 12-17. Many young men stay at home, living with parents longer and have lower employment than female counterparts. The very real problem of a generation unprepared for the challenges of managing adult life and participating in larger society.

What is behind this alarming trend?

Numerous factors have been pointed to as the causes of this trend:

• The job market: fewer promising prospects for the future
• Addictions: the availability of various substances as well as that of internet and video games
• Apathy and lack of passion: many young men report experiencing feelings of hopeless and disillusionment starting in high school
• Films and television shows that glamorize underachieving, immature men and applaud the stereotype
• Changing gender roles which lead to confusion about what role young men should play in society and relationships

Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to pinpoint the true origin of the problem. To date, we have mostly noted the symptoms and begun to study the trends more closely. What we do know is that in the current culture, many young men are failing to set and achieve goals.  They are not meeting  responsibilities or achieving on par with their potential. And what we also know is that we don’t know quite how to address the issue.  

Shifting ideas of adulthood

It may well be that what we are witnessing is a generation developing new definitions of success and adulthood. New ways of approaching politics, career, consumerism, and relationships are emerging with the Millennials. There have been innumerable articles written about how Millennials value doing good over making lots of money and how they tend to want to rent rather than buy a home. There are many values held by this emerging generation that differ strongly from the ones that came before. It is possible that this new trend is part of the transition to a new way of relating to life and society.

Sincerely,

Dr. Eileen Wynne

References

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011261/Americas-Lost-Boys-Why-ARE-young-men-failing-grow-up.html

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/the-sorry-lives-and-confusing-times-of-today-s-young-men/

http://www.today.com/health/boys-men-why-guys-arent-growing-2D80556234

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/education/edlife/teaching-men-to-be-emotionally-honest.html?_r=0

http://pages.uoregon.edu/eherman/teaching/texts/DiPrete%20&%20Buchmann,%202013%20Briefing%20The-rise-of-women.pdf

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/04/opinion/bennett-men-in-trouble/

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/06/10/Rise-New-Economic-Underclass-Millennial-Men

Campus Concerns: Mental health impacts dropout rates

In recent headlines, there have been an increasing number of news stories and opinion pieces looking at what’s been called a college mental health crisis by some and an epidemic of mental illness on campus by others.  Whatever you call it, there is certainly a problem with college students and young adults getting adequate access to appropriate mental health care resources.  A study in the Annals of Emergency Medicine noted an increasing number (2.6%) of mental health-related ED visits made by young adults (19-25). This study suggests that a lack of proper mental health resources is to blame for this upswing. Not knowing where to go for mental health related concerns, young people are going to the emergency room with greater frequency. There are also more news and media sources paying attention and drawing important conclusions about the high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression facing young adults today. This increase in the prevalence of mental health conditions is impacting young people during college years and causing problems that have longer lasting effects, leading to an increasing number of dropouts among those suffering from untreated mental health issues.

In 2012, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) compiled a survey of called College Students Speak: A Survey Report on Mental Health. This report looked at the web-based survey responses of 765  young adults who were enrolled in college or had been in the last 5 years who were also diagnosed with a mental health conditions. Important recent news has drawn attention to the dramatic increase in students reporting mental health issues on college campuses across the U.S., and this survey took  a deeper look at the effects.  The report demonstrated that a disheartening byproduct of this lack of appropriate mental health resources for so many young adults is a the inability to handle life’s responsibilities and the subsequent rise in college dropout rates among people ages 16-24. In fact, 64% of the respondents in the NAMI survey were no longer in school, and of those, an overwhelming majority noted that mental health related issues were the cause of this non-attendance. Throughout their lifetimes, women are two times more likely to be depressed making the likelihood that women will experience college dropout higher.

This is alarming news as competition for jobs becomes more intense and the lack of well-paying, long-term positions means that millennials entering the job market need to be more broadly skilled and flexible than any group entering the market in recent history. An education is not the most important thing, but it is an undeniable asset in a tough market, and the results of recent studies demonstrate that those with mental health issues are starting their adult lives and careers at a disadvantage, with higher dropout rates that people who don’t contend with such issues. Reasons for dropouts range from loss of scholarship funds because of mental health leave to inability to resume studies because of chronic mental health conditions. Leaving school may present other concerns for the student. First, they may lose access to the mental health services the university provided. They may also lose the structure of life that university life provided.

It is clear that if making resources available is the most critical factor for struggling students, raising awareness about these resources is a close second in terms of importance.  But how best to achieve all these ends?

Removing barriers to support

In the NAMI Survey, responders note the types of resources that might have helped them stay in school. Campus mental health services, housing, and a number of other accommodations were cited as items that could help support students struggling with mental health issues regain equilibrium and stay in school.

Investing in mental health services on campus, is clearly a wise choice for universities and colleges, as I have noted in previous articles on this subject. In addition, when colleges partner with local providers and spread the word to students about resources using social media, outreach programs, handouts in health centers, and the school’s website to help promote increased access to services, everyone wins. Many students have reported not being aware of services in place to help them, so getting the word out, is vital. Linking students to services, whether they are financial, medical, or other support services can truly change the course of their futures.

Many students are not aware that mental health issues can be considered disabilities and that they may be able to get access to mental health providers and additional accommodations through the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Reaching out to students who are struggling can mean the difference between staying in school and dropping out. Some other critical accommodations for students facing mental health issues are:

• Making exceptions and excusing absences for mental health treatment
• Extensions for homework assignments and papers
• Test-taking adjustments
• Allowing students to withdraw from courses without penalties
• Medical leaves for students with mental health conditions
• Helping students with the paperwork necessary to get help
• Working to stamp out stigma associated with mental health issues

We are living in times of tremendous change. Giving students all the help we can to help them succeed is more important than it ever has been as the career certainties that older generations relied upon evaporate, making way for new ways of making a living and navigating society.  

Sincerely,

Dr. Eileen Wynne

Reference:

https://www.nami.org/getattachment/About-NAMI/Publications-Reports/Survey-Reports/College-Students-Speak_A-Survey-Report-on-Mental-Health-NAMI-2012.pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200505/the-new-college-dropout

http://www.behavioral.net/news-item/young-adults-still-going-er-mental-illnesses

http://www.collegedegreesearch.net/student-suicides/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/stress-less-stigma-drives-college-students-mental-health-services/

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/stress-social-media-and-suicide-on-campus.html?_r=0

http://ccmh.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3058/2015/02/2014-CCMH-Annual-Report.pdf