Over the past couple of months I have had the opportunity to speak to 161 students at Rockhurst College, 70 at Baker University, and over 400 at Missouri State University and if there is one take away it’s this: college students really “get it”.
They understand how important the subject of mental health awareness has become and are very anxious to deal with mental illness. In a recent round table discussion I had with seven students at Rockhurst it was obvious that students today are very much aware that mental illness has become pervasive. Most know of someone (even some at our table) who is living with a mental illness. When I asked what their biggest concern was the answer was a unanimous “the horrific stigma” attached to mental illness. Several of the students have tried at one time or another to help someone they know who is living with the disease, only to be rebuffed because the student was concerned that knowledge of their condition would spread through the community and the consequences would be painful, almost more so than the disease itself. Students are worried that their peers will shun them once they find out they have a mental illness, and could one day hinder their opportunity to secure employment.
Students tell me they are stressed (nothing new as every generation of students have felt that, too) and that most are seeking ways to relieve and reduce the amount they live with. The problem is that the stigma limits their options. Most agree that they would like to talk to each other about their issues, but are embarrassed and ashamed to admit they are suffering. Having a mental illness and admitting it tells the world that you are weak and nobody wants others to think that of anyone.
My table decided that the stigma has to be eliminated but the only way to do so is to speak out and talk about mental illness as if it were similar to any other disease. They felt that once mental illness conversation becomes more frequent, the scariness of it will dissipate and students will be open to learning more about it. Most of the students felt that students blamed others for having the disease and know that the truth is that it isn’t anyone’s fault. However, that’s not the talk…in fact, it’s the opposite, that mental illness is almost a choice.
The students “get it”. They know that it’s the stigma, stupid! That when we eliminate it more kids will seek the help they need and the suicide rate (the second leading cause of death among college students will be greatly reduced.
We need to keep the conversation moving. We need to continuously address the issue of the stigma on college campuses through special lectures on the subject, campus sponsored walks and other events that keep the subject “out there”.
College kids want to face the stigma. They want to learn more. They want to end the suicides. Let’s help them by giving them the tools they need.