How Can Colleges Help Students with Mental Illness?

I was diagnosed with severe mental illness while I was a sophomore in college. I was suicidal, which prompted an emergency psychiatric evaluation. Unfortunately, it also prompted eviction from the dorm and suspension from school. I later got the director of the counseling center to admit--on the record--that the policy was more for the benefit of other students than the suicidal student. It was not the most compassionate of policies. So how can colleges and universities help students with mental illness?

Education in College about Mental Illness

My university offered very little education on the subject of mental illness. So during my junior year, when I was a staff writer for the campus paper, I took it upon myself to write articles about symptoms of mental illness and how to seek help. While this did not endear me to the administration--especially when I reported that we had a high rate of eating disorders--my articles encouraged people to seek help. As one of my sources said, "You may think you're in control with your eating disorder symptoms, but you've never been more out of control in your life. We're here to help."

Education should begin with a frank, open discussion about the stigma attached to mental illness. It should be safe to say that mental illness can happen to anybody, and that mental illness does not make one a bad person. It should then move on to symptoms and treatment; HealthyPlace is an excellent source, offering screenings and medical definitions of many different illnesses.

Most mental illnesses are highly treatable with medication and therapy. For example, borderline personality disorder can be treated with medications and therapy. Online support can also be helpful; HealthyPlace has several good online forums.

It's okay to seek treatment for physical illnesses such as mononucleosis. It should be okay to seek treatment for mental illnesses such as depression.

Holistic Healthcare for Mental Illness in College

During my junior year, the college opened a new building which combined all the health services into one. This is a model for all universities to follow; many times there are physical problems along with the psychiatric problem. An example would be an eating disorder. The treatment team should include all aspects of life: physical, mental, and spiritual. The person will need to address the issue in counseling. They will also need medication monitoring. In addition, their physical health must be addressed as an untreated eating disorder can be fatal. Spiritual components also factor in as mental illness can warp one's understanding of the Divine. Treatment must address all aspects of life.

Treatment providers--be they counselors, physicians, or pastors--must all be on the same page. Each must understand mental illness and address the person's needs as a team. For example, a pastor should not encourage a person to fast and pray, but to seek help for mental health issues. A counselor should not ignore the spiritual component of the person's well-being, but help the person orient themselves toward a Higher Power in a healthy way.

Eliminate the Mental Illness Stigma

While my college offered mental health screenings once a semester, it heavily stigmatized mental illness. When I was suspended for being suicidal, all of my professors were notified. I also had to appear before the dean of discipline to be reinstated, and I was told, "The consequences will be much harsher if this happens again." And it wasn't just me--a friend of mine was called before the dean after they checked her Internet history and found she was visiting sites about suicide.

This is unacceptable.

A college should not ostracize students with mental illness; it should support them. Mental illness should not be grounds for suspension or expulsion unless the person is a threat to other people.

The dean who presided over my suspension told me, "You'd think we'd be sophisticated enough in our society to not stigmatize mental health." He's right. The stigma must stop, and universities are a good place to start.

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