Changing the Conversation About Mental Health Alison Malmon Founder & Executive Director

1. Changing the Conversation About Mental Health Alison Malmon Founder & Executive Director alison@activeminds.org • Ohio Program for Campus Safety & Mental Health • May 21, 2019

5. Student Mental Health: What We’ve Learned

6. The facts. • More than 30 percent of college students report having been diagnosed or treated by a professional for some form of psychological distress in the last year* • The top 4 factors negatively affecting academic performance in the past year were all mental health related (anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, stress)* • Rates of depression and suicidal ideation have increased over the past 10 years, as have rates of service utilization** • The earlier mental health issues are addressed, the more likely they are treatable • More than a quarter of college students have seriously considered suicide and 1 in 10 have had those thoughts within the past year* • Young adults hold some of the least-stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness and are more likely to know someone with mental illness, but they are less likely to feel that they know how to help**, suggesting the importance of programming that educates this group about how to be supportive and how to connect people to the resources that they need. • *ACHA-NCHA **Healthy Minds Network

7. College success is about more than just access. • Depressive symptoms, depression diagnosis, and substance use predict college retention problems (The Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health College Life Study) • High scores on a depression inventory during the first year of college were associated with increased risk of college dropout. • In addition, a clinical diagnosis of depression during college tripled a student’s odds of dropping out in their first two years, and more than doubled odds of dropping out in the last two years • Mental health disorders are associated with lower grades, delayed graduation, and dropping out (Eisenberg et al, 2011) See more at healthyminds.org.

8. Campus climate matters. • Students who feel that their campus is a place • where they are less likely to be stigmatized for • admitting to a mental health problem — who • feel that their campus community would support them in seeking treatment — are over 20% more likely to receive services, and 60% more likely to do so on campus. • On campuses where the faculty and staff feel that they have adequate resources and services to support students with mental health problems, there is significantly higher use of mental health services by students, both on and off campus. • *“Campus Climate Matters: Changing the Mental Health Climate on College Campuses Improves Student Outcomes and Benefits Society.” Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2016. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9904.html.

9. Language matters.

10. Mobilizing Students: What You Need to Know

12. Raising Student Voice and Participation 67% of students tell a friend they are suicidal before telling anyone else. • Students deserve a seat at the table. • Organized groups: • ActiveMinds.org/chapters • Be Proactive. • Don’t just give advice. Advise. • Reap the rewards

13. Raising Student Voice and Participation

14. College students of today are the practitioners, policymakers, and parents of tomorrow. www.activeminds.org alison@activeminds.org T: @AlisonMalmon