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

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

Definitions Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) 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 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 Entitled to reasonable accommodations Include chronic pain, chronic fatigue, diabetes, epilepsy, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, Aspergers Syndrome, and… Include chronic pain, chronic fatigue, diabetes, epilepsy, lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, brain injuries, Aspergers Syndrome, and…

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

College Students and Mental Illnesses Nearly half of all students will become so depressed that they will have difficulty functioning (see ) Nearly half of all students will become so depressed that they will have difficulty functioning (see ) Between ages of 15 and 21, nearly 40% will be diagnosed with a mental illness Between ages of 15 and 21, nearly 40% will be diagnosed with a mental illness 1 in 4 students will suffer from MDD 1 in 4 students will suffer from MDD Nearly 80% of students who need treatment won’t seek help! Nearly 80% of students who need treatment won’t seek help!

What’s Happening? Young adult brains and the college years Young adult brains and the college years+ Stress, stress, and more stress Stress, stress, and more stress = The Perfect Storm! The Perfect Storm!

Giving MDD a Voice Group Exercise Group Exercise

Giving MDD a Voice Nearly 80% of students who need treatment won’t seek help! Nearly 80% of students who need treatment won’t seek help! Why not? Why not?

Good Stuff to Know Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain and can be treated Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain and can be treated Recovery from mental illness is not a matter of willpower Recovery from mental illness is not a matter of willpower Stigma on college campuses is lower than 20 years ago Stigma on college campuses is lower than 20 years ago Students maintain “personally held” stigma Students maintain “personally held” stigma Talking about suicidal thoughts doesn’t make them worse Talking about suicidal thoughts doesn’t make them worse UHS Counseling Center Services & Ross Center UHS Counseling Center Services & Ross Center

Good Stuff to Do Group Exercise- Group Exercise- “Cognitive Shifting” “Cognitive Shifting”

More Good Stuff to Do Talk about it! Talk about it! Access your resources Access your resources Don’t delay Don’t delay Commit to a healthier lifestyle Commit to a healthier lifestyle Check your thoughts Check your thoughts Take a depression screening test Take a depression screening test Take better care of your brain and avoid binge drinking Take better care of your brain and avoid binge drinking

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