Students Returning to Campus Urged to Check Mental-Health Resources

As college students head to campus in the coming weeks, mental-health experts are urging both students and parents to familiarize themselves with the school’s on-site mental-health resources.

Three in five college students nationwide reported being diagnosed with anxiety, depression or another mental-health condition by a professional, according to a Harris Poll released this year.

Virginia Rodilla, manager of the helpline and on-campus support for the National Alliance on Mental Illness-North Carolina, said especially for incoming college freshmen, the coronavirus has disrupted preparing for a new chapter.

“A lot of young people were stuck at home,” Rodilla pointed out. “They were relying on social media and screen time, less social interaction, and a lot of uncertainty around the pandemic and societal issues.”

She added while colleges generally are not staffed to handle severe psychiatric disorders, counselors located in health and wellness centers are a first stop for students living on campus. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Rodilla pointed out younger students may be used to a parent handling health care needs or making appointments, and might be in the dark about the details of their health insurance plan and what it covers, if they are insured.

She noted there also are places to turn for students who are far from home. The Alliance runs a helpline in North Carolina, at 1-800-451-9682, available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. She added experts are on call to help connect students to the right resources.

“After those hours, a student can text the word NAMI to 741-741,” Rodilla urged. “That’s 24 hours a day, never closes, and a helping professional would be able to direct that person to services and help.”

She emphasized NAMI is working with campuses across the state.

“If anybody is ever interested in bringing awareness to mental health on their campus, forming some student support groups, having some awareness and health events, healthy events,” Rodilla outlined. “They can work on forming a NAMI On Campus club at their school.”

Nationwide, people are becoming more informed on mental health. In a 2019 poll by the American Psychological Association, nearly 90% of adults agreed having a mental-health condition is nothing to be ashamed of, and 86% said they believe people with mental-health disorders can get better.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

Urgen a estudiantes que regresan al campus a consultar recursos de salud mental

college

A medida que los estudiantes universitarios regresan al campus en las proximas semanas, los expertos en salud mental llaman tanto a los estudiantes como a los padres a familiarizarse con los recursos de salud mental que ofrece la escuela.

Tres de cada cinco estudiantes universitarios en todo el pais informaron que un profesional les ha diagnosticado ansiedad, depresion u otra afeccion de salud mental, segun dice una encuesta de Harris publicada este ano.

Virginia Rodilla, de la Alianza Nacional sobre Enfermedades Mentales en Carolina del Norte, dice que el coronavirus ha interrumpido la preparacion para un nuevo capitulo, especialmente para los estudiantes de primer ano que ingresan a la universidad.

“Muchos jovenes estuvieron atrapados en casa,” dice Rodilla. “Dependiendo de las redes sociales y el tiempo de pantalla, menos interaccion social y mucha incertidumbre en torno a la pandemia y los problemas sociales.”

Ella agrega que si bien las universidades generalmente no cuentan con personal para manejar trastornos psiquiatricos graves, los consejeros ubicados en los centros de salud y bienestar son una primera opcion para los estudiantes que viven en el campus. Si usted o alguien que conoce puede estar considerando suicidarse, comuniquese con la Linea Nacional de Prevencion del Suicidio o al 9-8-8.

Rodilla senala que los estudiantes mas jovenes pueden estar acostumbrados a que alguno de sus padres maneje las necesidades de atencion medica o haga citas, y pueden no saber los detalles de su plan de seguro medico y lo que cubre, si estan asegurados.

Ella senala que tambien hay lugares para los estudiantes que estan lejos de casa. NAMI North Carolina tiene una linea de ayuda, al 1-800-451-9682, disponible de lunes a viernes, de nueve a cinco. Ella dice que los expertos estan de guardia para ayudar a conectar a los estudiantes con los recursos adecuados.

“Despues de ese horario, un estudiante puede enviar un mensaje de texto con la palabra NAMI al 741-741,” informa Rodilla. “Y eso es para las 24 horas del dia, nunca cierra, y un profesional de ayuda puede dirigir a esa persona a los servicios de ayuda.”

Agrega que NAMI esta trabajando en los campus de todo el estado.

“Si alguien alguna vez esta interesado en generar conciencia sobre la salud mental en su campus, formar grupos de apoyo para estudiantes, tener eventos de conciencia y salud, eventos saludables,” subraya Rodilla. “Pueden trabajar para formar un club NAMI On Campus en su escuela.”

En todo el pais, las personas estan cada vez mas informadas sobre la salud mental. En una encuesta de 2019 realizada por la Asociacion Estadounidense de Psicologia, casi el 90% de los adultos estuvo de acuerdo en que tener una afeccion de salud mental no es algo de lo que deban avergonzarse, y el 86% dijo que cree que las personas con trastornos de salud mental pueden mejorar.

El apoyo para este reportaje fue aportado por la Fundacion Lumina.

The post Students Returning to Campus Urged to Check Mental-Health Resources appeared first on Sunshine Slate.



source https://www.sunshineslate.com/business/education/students-returning-to-campus-urged-to-check-mental-health-resources/

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