um pleasure to be here tonight I am NOT here as an expert in the field of mental
here as an expert in the field of mental
here as an expert in the field of mental health but I’m here to promote a call to
health but I’m here to promote a call to
health but I’m here to promote a call to action to everyone starting to really
action to everyone starting to really
action to everyone starting to really hunt and across United States to make a
hunt and across United States to make a
hunt and across United States to make a more concerted effort to focus on mental
more concerted effort to focus on mental
more concerted effort to focus on mental health issues among our students because
health issues among our students because
health issues among our students because unfortunately there is a mental health
unfortunately there is a mental health
unfortunately there is a mental health crisis affecting us across the United
crisis affecting us across the United
crisis affecting us across the United States one in four students in the
States one in four students in the
States one in four students in the United College students I’m only
United College students I’m only
United College students I’m only focusing on costume innocence have a
focusing on costume innocence have a
focusing on costume innocence have a diagnosable illness almost two-thirds of
diagnosable illness almost two-thirds of
diagnosable illness almost two-thirds of those students do not seek help when
those students do not seek help when
those students do not seek help when it’s needed 80% of students who are
it’s needed 80% of students who are
it’s needed 80% of students who are surveyed feel overwhelmed at times half
surveyed feel overwhelmed at times half
surveyed feel overwhelmed at times half of students feel a sense of hopelessness
of students feel a sense of hopelessness
of students feel a sense of hopelessness and last but certainly not least suicide
and last but certainly not least suicide
and last but certainly not least suicide had become the number two cause of death
had become the number two cause of death
had become the number two cause of death among college students in the United
among college students in the United
among college students in the United States so what can we do about this has
States so what can we do about this has
States so what can we do about this has anyone here ever suffered from any type
anyone here ever suffered from any type
anyone here ever suffered from any type of mental health problem or do you know
of mental health problem or do you know
of mental health problem or do you know anyone who’s ever suffered to me okay
anyone who’s ever suffered to me okay
anyone who’s ever suffered to me okay quite a few actually there were more
quite a few actually there were more
quite a few actually there were more hands raised than I thought because a
hands raised than I thought because a
hands raised than I thought because a lot of people there’s still a stigma
lot of people there’s still a stigma
lot of people there’s still a stigma attached with mental health a lot of
attached with mental health a lot of
attached with mental health a lot of people’s own a knowledge that they
people’s own a knowledge that they
people’s own a knowledge that they either had a problem or that they have a
either had a problem or that they have a
either had a problem or that they have a family member or a friend we had a
family member or a friend we had a
family member or a friend we had a problem and unfortunately our colleges
problem and unfortunately our colleges
problem and unfortunately our colleges are not addressing the issue let me give
are not addressing the issue let me give
are not addressing the issue let me give you a few examples of how colleges have
you a few examples of how colleges have
you a few examples of how colleges have handed mental health issues Dan his
handed mental health issues Dan his
handed mental health issues Dan his student at Princeton he is feeling down
student at Princeton he is feeling down
student at Princeton he is feeling down thinks he’s depressed goes to the
thinks he’s depressed goes to the
thinks he’s depressed goes to the hospital he’s admitted for three days he
hospital he’s admitted for three days he
hospital he’s admitted for three days he comes out he’s feeling good he’s going
comes out he’s feeling good he’s going
comes out he’s feeling good he’s going to meet with a counselor periodically
to meet with a counselor periodically
to meet with a counselor periodically gets a letter from Princeton that his
gets a letter from Princeton that his
gets a letter from Princeton that his enrollment
enrollment
enrollment has been revoked he is no longer welcome
has been revoked he is no longer welcome
has been revoked he is no longer welcome back on campus now his parents hired an
back on campus now his parents hired an
back on campus now his parents hired an attorney went through litigation
attorney went through litigation
attorney went through litigation eventually he did win the appeal
eventually he did win the appeal
eventually he did win the appeal finished up his studies at Princeton
another student Samantha at University
another student Samantha at University of Chicago also hospitalized but
of Chicago also hospitalized but
of Chicago also hospitalized but involved voluntarily we made with
involved voluntarily we made with
involved voluntarily we made with concerned better reported to the Student
concerned better reported to the Student
concerned better reported to the Student Counseling Center she was called in
Counseling Center she was called in
Counseling Center she was called in security took her to the hospital she
security took her to the hospital she
security took her to the hospital she was admitted as a suicide risk the whole
was admitted as a suicide risk the whole
was admitted as a suicide risk the whole time she insisted I’m not to press them
time she insisted I’m not to press them
time she insisted I’m not to press them on suicide risk I don’t really need to
on suicide risk I don’t really need to
on suicide risk I don’t really need to be here she gets a letter from the Dean
be here she gets a letter from the Dean
be here she gets a letter from the Dean students office town or she has 48 hours
students office town or she has 48 hours
students office town or she has 48 hours to clear after horn room again she’s no
to clear after horn room again she’s no
to clear after horn room again she’s no longer welcome on campus the reasoning
longer welcome on campus the reasoning
longer welcome on campus the reasoning behind for instance their rationale was
behind for instance their rationale was
behind for instance their rationale was that Dan was a risk of harm to himself
that Dan was a risk of harm to himself
that Dan was a risk of harm to himself or others Chicago
or others Chicago
or others Chicago unfortunately their theory was that it
unfortunately their theory was that it
unfortunately their theory was that it would be a bad PR move if the student
would be a bad PR move if the student
would be a bad PR move if the student comes comes back and commits suicide
comes comes back and commits suicide
comes comes back and commits suicide another example a little closer to home
another example a little closer to home
another example a little closer to home Joseph was a student here at Lee Grahn
Joseph was a student here at Lee Grahn
Joseph was a student here at Lee Grahn spring of a sophomore year Sonny was off
spring of a sophomore year Sonny was off
spring of a sophomore year Sonny was off the grid
the grid
the grid he’s also glad you’re not swiping into
he’s also glad you’re not swiping into
he’s also glad you’re not swiping into cafeteria he was not socializing no one
cafeteria he was not socializing no one
cafeteria he was not socializing no one seems to notice anything’s in this no
seems to notice anything’s in this no
seems to notice anything’s in this no one reports anything what’s striking
one reports anything what’s striking
one reports anything what’s striking about his example is that he shared a
about his example is that he shared a
about his example is that he shared a suite of broadhead with the RA for that
suite of broadhead with the RA for that
suite of broadhead with the RA for that floor the RA there had never even
floor the RA there had never even
floor the RA there had never even noticed anything
noticed anything
noticed anything ignorance is bliss isn’t it well not for
ignorance is bliss isn’t it well not for
ignorance is bliss isn’t it well not for Joseph
Joseph
Joseph he was eventually hospitalized had weeks
he was eventually hospitalized had weeks
he was eventually hospitalized had weeks of outpatient therapy in the day program
of outpatient therapy in the day program
of outpatient therapy in the day program of some sort and by then we’re looking
of some sort and by then we’re looking
of some sort and by then we’re looking at may finals are coming around he’s not
at may finals are coming around he’s not
at may finals are coming around he’s not capable of taking his finals because
capable of taking his finals because
capable of taking his finals because anybody who knows anything about
anybody who knows anything about
anybody who knows anything about depression and anxiety
depression and anxiety
depression and anxiety knows that the Canton bounce back from
knows that the Canton bounce back from
knows that the Canton bounce back from something like that he requests the
something like that he requests the
something like that he requests the university legend withdraw from his
university legend withdraw from his
university legend withdraw from his classes because he’s just not going to
classes because he’s just not going to
classes because he’s just not going to be able to finish up the semester that
be able to finish up the semester that
be able to finish up the semester that request is denied
request is denied
request is denied he’s told but you can take your fines at
he’s told but you can take your fines at
he’s told but you can take your fines at some point before the semester starts
some point before the semester starts
some point before the semester starts he’s not physically mentally capable of
he’s not physically mentally capable of
he’s not physically mentally capable of doing that
doing that
doing that eventually he fails that semester the
eventually he fails that semester the
eventually he fails that semester the end result was that financial aid then
end result was that financial aid then
end result was that financial aid then denied his they revoked his financial
denied his they revoked his financial
denied his they revoked his financial aid for the fall so again he wasn’t able
aid for the fall so again he wasn’t able
aid for the fall so again he wasn’t able to come back to class either so
to come back to class either so
to come back to class either so unfortunately that we see a pattern
unfortunately that we see a pattern
unfortunately that we see a pattern development here schools they’re just
development here schools they’re just
development here schools they’re just throwing away these kids they’re not
throwing away these kids they’re not
throwing away these kids they’re not doing what needs to be done to help them
doing what needs to be done to help them
doing what needs to be done to help them they’re not providing a reasonable
they’re not providing a reasonable
they’re not providing a reasonable accommodation like we do with a student
accommodation like we do with a student
accommodation like we do with a student with a physical disability or student
with a physical disability or student
with a physical disability or student with a learning disability it’s very
with a learning disability it’s very
with a learning disability it’s very easy but reasonable accommodation for
easy but reasonable accommodation for
easy but reasonable accommodation for someone with a physical disability but
someone with a physical disability but
someone with a physical disability but schools don’t know what to do when you
schools don’t know what to do when you
schools don’t know what to do when you have student with a mental health issue
have student with a mental health issue
have student with a mental health issue so what do we do from here where do we
so what do we do from here where do we
so what do we do from here where do we go yeah everyone might say well it’s not
go yeah everyone might say well it’s not
go yeah everyone might say well it’s not my problem
my problem
my problem or I don’t what to do about it what do I
or I don’t what to do about it what do I
or I don’t what to do about it what do I do there are things that the steps that
do there are things that the steps that
do there are things that the steps that can be taken there are students that we
can be taken there are students that we
can be taken there are students that we can have on every campus in the country
can have on every campus in the country
can have on every campus in the country Active Minds is a group that was started
Active Minds is a group that was started
Active Minds is a group that was started at Penn in 2001 there are now 400 active
at Penn in 2001 there are now 400 active
at Penn in 2001 there are now 400 active minds Charlie’s our country and it’s a
minds Charlie’s our country and it’s a
minds Charlie’s our country and it’s a group that empowers students to help
group that empowers students to help
group that empowers students to help each other
each other
each other provide students with resources teaching
provide students with resources teaching
provide students with resources teaching them have a look for warning signs and
them have a look for warning signs and
them have a look for warning signs and once you find a student who you think is
once you find a student who you think is
once you find a student who you think is in crisis then they teach you what steps
in crisis then they teach you what steps
in crisis then they teach you what steps to take to help that student this is
to take to help that student this is
to take to help that student this is just a list the optimized charters here
just a list the optimized charters here
just a list the optimized charters here in Pennsylvania another student group
in Pennsylvania another student group
in Pennsylvania another student group that you have here at Lehigh actually
that you have here at Lehigh actually
that you have here at Lehigh actually Nami on campus and I understand now me
Nami on campus and I understand now me
Nami on campus and I understand now me now is starting to get more involved but
now is starting to get more involved but
now is starting to get more involved but it’s important that the students are
it’s important that the students are
it’s important that the students are engaged and are involved even something
engaged and are involved even something
engaged and are involved even something like doing triage at the dining hall or
like doing triage at the dining hall or
like doing triage at the dining hall or the students
the students
the students or doing surveys of students one-on-one
or doing surveys of students one-on-one
or doing surveys of students one-on-one to find out who needs counseling and
to find out who needs counseling and
to find out who needs counseling and granting or counseling centers are
granting or counseling centers are
granting or counseling centers are swamped they’re underfunded they’re
swamped they’re underfunded they’re
swamped they’re underfunded they’re understaffed they can’t handle the
understaffed they can’t handle the
understaffed they can’t handle the volume that is needed on a day to day
volume that is needed on a day to day
volume that is needed on a day to day basis and unfortunately colleges tend to
basis and unfortunately colleges tend to
basis and unfortunately colleges tend to cut things like that when they have
cut things like that when they have
cut things like that when they have budget restrictions they’re going to cut
budget restrictions they’re going to cut
budget restrictions they’re going to cut counseling services and unfortunately
counseling services and unfortunately
counseling services and unfortunately those are the things that we need more
those are the things that we need more
those are the things that we need more of instead of less so another thing that
of instead of less so another thing that
of instead of less so another thing that we really should focus on is training
we really should focus on is training
we really should focus on is training whichever line of your students we need
whichever line of your students we need
whichever line of your students we need to train our faculty you need to train
to train our faculty you need to train
to train our faculty you need to train our staff we need to train our
our staff we need to train our
our staff we need to train our administrators as well as our students
administrators as well as our students
administrators as well as our students regarding what to look for or the
regarding what to look for or the
regarding what to look for or the warning signs what can we do to help our
warning signs what can we do to help our
warning signs what can we do to help our students if we can’t handle it here at
students if we can’t handle it here at
students if we can’t handle it here at campus and we need to work with
campus and we need to work with
campus and we need to work with off-campus organizations there are a lot
off-campus organizations there are a lot
off-campus organizations there are a lot of organizations out there that provide
of organizations out there that provide
of organizations out there that provide free counseling services frozen okay I
free counseling services frozen okay I
free counseling services frozen okay I don’t need it
don’t need it
don’t need it said the end result is we need to help
said the end result is we need to help
said the end result is we need to help our students stay in school or if they
our students stay in school or if they
our students stay in school or if they leave school for treatment we need to be
leave school for treatment we need to be
leave school for treatment we need to be able to provide readmission for them so
able to provide readmission for them so
able to provide readmission for them so again you’re probably sitting there
again you’re probably sitting there
again you’re probably sitting there saying well this all sounds good but
saying well this all sounds good but
saying well this all sounds good but what can I do you need to contact your
what can I do you need to contact your
what can I do you need to contact your school administrators you need to force
school administrators you need to force
school administrators you need to force them to do something to address the
them to do something to address the
them to do something to address the ongoing issues I know I don’t want to
ongoing issues I know I don’t want to
ongoing issues I know I don’t want to run over time because you took some of
run over time because you took some of
run over time because you took some of my time but if anyone has questions or
my time but if anyone has questions or
my time but if anyone has questions or would like to discuss anything comfort
would like to discuss anything comfort
would like to discuss anything comfort or you want to know where you can go for
or you want to know where you can go for
or you want to know where you can go for resources
resources
resources feel free to see me after the talk I do
feel free to see me after the talk I do
feel free to see me after the talk I do have some suicide cards it’s a little
have some suicide cards it’s a little
have some suicide cards it’s a little white hard to keep in your wallet and
white hard to keep in your wallet and
white hard to keep in your wallet and you prefer to it so you see what what
you prefer to it so you see what what
you prefer to it so you see what what the signs are see a roommate who all the
the signs are see a roommate who all the
the signs are see a roommate who all the sudden is sitting in his or her room
sudden is sitting in his or her room
sudden is sitting in his or her room this hands music for hours and when that
this hands music for hours and when that
this hands music for hours and when that person was never like that before it
person was never like that before it
person was never like that before it just kind of gives you things to look
just kind of gives you things to look
just kind of gives you things to look for
for
for but anyway but see me afterwards if
but anyway but see me afterwards if
but anyway but see me afterwards if somebody wants to talk confidentially
somebody wants to talk confidentially
somebody wants to talk confidentially I’ll have a pad in the back you can name
I’ll have a pad in the back you can name
I’ll have a pad in the back you can name and you know address down or phone
and you know address down or phone
and you know address down or phone number you can strike up a conversation
number you can strike up a conversation
number you can strike up a conversation I can connect you with some resources
I can connect you with some resources
I can connect you with some resources that that would be very important so
that that would be very important so
that that would be very important so let’s get it started here as I said
let’s get it started here as I said
let’s get it started here as I said there are things going on across the
there are things going on across the
there are things going on across the country but there’s no concerted effort
country but there’s no concerted effort
country but there’s no concerted effort I got a minute I’m going to keep going
I got a minute I’m going to keep going
I got a minute I’m going to keep going but one thing we might want to segue
but one thing we might want to segue
but one thing we might want to segue with I know here at Lehigh in other
with I know here at Lehigh in other
with I know here at Lehigh in other schools getting from alcohol edu program
schools getting from alcohol edu program
schools getting from alcohol edu program that all students have to take before
that all students have to take before
that all students have to take before they start here on campus that would be
they start here on campus that would be
they start here on campus that would be the perfect thing incorporate in with
the perfect thing incorporate in with
the perfect thing incorporate in with your alcohol edu a confidential survey a
your alcohol edu a confidential survey a
your alcohol edu a confidential survey a mental health survey a depression survey
mental health survey a depression survey
mental health survey a depression survey there are bunch of different things that
there are bunch of different things that
there are bunch of different things that you can do to stage students prepare to
you can do to stage students prepare to
you can do to stage students prepare to come to campus because unfortunately the
come to campus because unfortunately the
come to campus because unfortunately the mine doesn’t exactly psych majors the
mine doesn’t exactly psych majors the
mine doesn’t exactly psych majors the mind doesn’t mature until age 26 we’re
mind doesn’t mature until age 26 we’re
mind doesn’t mature until age 26 we’re sending our eighteen and nineteen year
sending our eighteen and nineteen year
sending our eighteen and nineteen year old kid to college and they’re not
old kid to college and they’re not
old kid to college and they’re not prepared to deal with the stressors or
prepared to deal with the stressors or
prepared to deal with the stressors or everything else that they they have to
everything else that they they have to
everything else that they they have to deal with you know of being alone you
deal with you know of being alone you
deal with you know of being alone you know I’m a diurnal corner or downstairs
know I’m a diurnal corner or downstairs
know I’m a diurnal corner or downstairs anymore so we did incorporate some of
anymore so we did incorporate some of
anymore so we did incorporate some of these things like that alcohol edu with
these things like that alcohol edu with
these things like that alcohol edu with mental health so that kids are more
mental health so that kids are more
mental health so that kids are more prepared when they get here thank you
prepared when they get here thank you
prepared when they get here thank you for being here I hope that you will
for being here I hope that you will
for being here I hope that you will accept my call to action and become
accept my call to action and become
accept my call to action and become involved and do something to
involved and do something to
involved and do something to I’m coach
”
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