1. 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
Mental Health Conference in New York
Mental Hygiene Committee formed
"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.
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),
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).