Cross Syllabus Integration Assignment: MENTAL HEALTH AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS LIVING IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS What is the current issue? What theories apply? Theories continued It is important to be aware of mental health concerns among students who live in the residence halls. Why is this relevant for Student Affairs professionals? In 2010, 51% of students coming to college reported having been previously diagnosed with mental health concerns. (Storrie et al, 2010) Examples of issues students have include: depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating and sleep disorders, relationship issues, and suicidiality (suicidal thoughts or behaviors). (Kadison, 2004) Why is this relevant for me? I have had personal experiences as a Resident Assistant working with students who struggle with mental health concerns. Chickering’s 7 vectors: Developing Competence: There are three types of competence: Intellectual: knowledge and skills Physical: wellness and involvement in activities Interpersonal skills to work with others Managing Emotions: The ability to recognize emotions and appropriately express them This includes a range of feelings Moving Through Autonomy Toward Interdependence: Emphasis on connectedness and emotional independence Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships: “Relationships contribute to identity development of a sense of self” (Evans et al, 2010, p. 68) Also includes appreciation of differences among individuals Establishing Identity: “Development based on gender, ethnic background, and sexual appearance” (p. 68) Developing Purpose: Decision-making and goal-setting to develop purpose Purpose is “a life direction that makes sense” (p. 69) Developing Integrity: There are three stages: Humanized value system: all interests (others and self) are balanced Personal value system Developing Congruence: similar values to self-interests with the balance of social responsibility Marginality and Mattering : Marginality: “a sense of not fitting in” (p. 31) Mattering: “or belief, whether right or wrong, that we matter to someone else” (p. 32) Four aspects of Mattering: Attention Importance Ego-extension Dependence Schlossberg created a fifth: appreciation It is important for practitioners to understand that students are all in different developmental stages. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecology Model Examination of “interactions between individuals and their environments” (Evans et al, 2010, p. 160) What is the history? What can we do about it? 1861 – College Health Service – Amherst College 1920 – American Student (now College) Health Association held first meeting 1927 - Mental Health Conference in New York 1938 - Mental Hygiene Committee formed 1960 - "Baby Boomers" in college created the need for more services 1961 – Recommended Standards and Practices for a College Health Program created Early 1970's – Mental health facilities now serving students, faculty, staff, and dependents 1994 – Students transitioned from discussing relationship issues to stress and anxiety issues. 2008 - Increase in medications for students with mental health concerns Program to Address the Topic: Connect one Counselor to each residence hall who will create workshops and interact with students to complete the following goals: Promote and de-stigmatize mental health Provide easily accessible services for students in residence halls Create workshops about stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide during weeks 3, 5, and 7 Offer advice to students about making appointments at CAPS Who: counselors will present to students living in each residence hall which includes a large range of students. Where: workshops facilitated in the halls and the sessions will be in the counseling offices. Students will set up appointments by calling the front desk. Assessment: pre and post-test surveys to be distributed at each workshop. Also, questions will be included in the overall residential education survey asking about the effectiveness of this program. (Kraft, 2011) What competencies are needed? Counseling and Advising Multicultural Awareness/Competence Knowledge of Student Development Theory Programming Teaching and Presentation Assessment Adele Christensen 12/08/2011 References Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student Development in College: Theory, Research, and Practice (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Kadison, R. D. (2004). Mental-health crisis: What colleges must do. Chronicle of Higher Education, 51(16), Kraft, D. P. (2009). “Mens Sana”: The growth of mental health in the American College Health Association. Journal of American College Health, 58(3), 267-275. Storrie, K., Ahern, K., & Tuckett, A. (2010). A systematic review: Students with mental health problems—A growing problem. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(1).