The stigma of mental illness can make it difficult for students struggling on college campuses to seek help. But both students and administrators across the country are trying to change that. Current State talks to two of the members of the mental health advocacy group Active Minds at MSU as well as Dr. Victor Schwartz, medical director for the JED Foundation, a national organization focused on campus mental health and suicide prevention.
The transition from high school to college can be a tough one. Most students are on their own for the first time and are trying to balance academic responsibilities with extracurricular and social activities.
It can be especially overwhelming for students dealing with depression, anxiety, or other psychological disorders. And the stigma around mental illness can make it hard to seek out the help they need.
Without help, those students suffer personally and academically, sometimes with tragic consequences. Experts estimate around 1,500 U.S. college students take their own life every year. That’s a statistic that both universities and the students themselves are working hard to change.
Current State talks to two members of the MSU chapter of Active Minds, a national organization that works to break down the stigma of mental illness on college campuses and Dr. Victor Schwartz, medical director for the JED Foundation.
The Michigan State University chapter of Active Minds will be hosting a "Send Silence Packing" event on September 25. More information available here.