When I first heard the descriptions of the Arizona shooter’s mental health condition, cold chills ran through my body, because not long ago I used many of the same words to describe a loved one.
The majority of people suffering from poor mental health do not resort to violence. However, they often suffer alone due to inadequate support systems. Anyone who has dealt with mental health issues understands the importance of having treatment options.
Because the first feelings of depression, anxiety, or psychosis often occur while a student is of college age, it is vital that Guilford have support services in place to assist students with their mental health.
This need has produced the Active Minds club, support groups, and “Lunch with Counselors.”
My aunt once said, “People do not see mental conditions the same way they see physical conditions.” This observation continues to stick with me.
“For lots of complicated reasons, many of us in this society seem to believe that we should be able to handle everything in our lives on our own,” said Director of Counseling Gaither Terrell in an e-mail interview. “We should ‘be tough.'”
This stigma is one of the things Active Minds is working to eliminate.
“This semester we are hoping to bring more focus to this aspect of the club, and bringing the ideas surrounding mental health to the forefront of peoples’ minds when they think about Active Minds,” said co-president Claire Norwood in an e-mail interview.
“We are planning on having movie screenings and then discussions and a Q&A time afterwards to increase the dialogue about mental health,” said Norwood. “The dialogue and conversation is what we want to have stimulated at Guilford, by showing the importance of it and the effects it has.”
Furthermore, Active Minds and the Counseling Center are working together to set up support groups.
“One that focuses specifically on suicide and survivors of it, in any sense, whether that be people who have attempted or people who know someone who has or it has affected their lives in some way,” said Norwood.
However, these efforts can only be effective when they are taken advantage of by the student population.
“So far, our biggest obstacle is getting people involved,” said Norwood.
Guilford students are at an advantage by having access to the services and support provided by Active Minds and the Counseling Center. All students should take advantage of these resources — if for no other reason than to educate themselves about the stigmas surrounding mental health.
“Everyone on our campus is a part of the student support system and we all want to give the message that there is help available and there is no shame in asking for that help,” said Terrell. “Just as you would seek help for a broken bone or diabetes, you should feel free to seek help for mental health concerns without shame.”
Maybe if the Arizona shooter had received treatment when his behavior first changed, while in college, a tragedy could have been prevented.