Connie Briscoe and Caroline Mann “It’s On My Mind – Mental Health Awareness”
1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17th, 605 Hodges Library
Many universities are learning to focus on how diverse identities such as ethnicity, gender, and nationality impact students’ learning and experience on campus. Yet there is an area of diversity that is frequently overlooked: mental health. How does living with a mental illness — such as bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety — impact students at UT? What resources are available to help? What issues are important for others to understand in working with these students?
This talk will aim to address some of these questions. For example, did you know…
• Over 25% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem in a given year.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds and the 2nd leading cause of death among college students.
• An estimated 1,100 college students die by suicide every year.
This talk will address mental health issues among college students in general, and those at UT in particular. We’ll discuss campus initiatives such as VolAware, which aims to de-stigmatize mental illness and educate students, staff, and faculty about suicide prevention and mental health and wellness resources. We’ll also talk about what we as a campus community can do to help students who have a mental illness.