As the first Mental Health Awareness Week taking place during a pandemic winds down, it is apparent there are many issues to tackle in terms of the mental well-being of post-secondary students.
In 2016, a Canadian National College Health Assessment report revealed some shocking statistics: 44.4 per cent of students reported that they felt so depressed at some point in the last 12 months that it was too difficult to function, and 13 per cent of students reported that they seriously considered suicide in the last 12 weeks.
To say that this is a crisis would be a gross understatement. Mental health issues among students require the utmost attention, and with COVID-19 complicating things even further, this is true now more than ever.
A fifth-year social sciences student, who wishes to remain anonymous, can relate to the ongoing mental health issues that so many students are dealing with.
“My mental health has been at an all-time low, especially with remote classes, and having to look at my laptop screen for countless hours. Nowadays I just feel rather alone and a lot of days are difficult because I’m in a home that is rather toxic. Being able to go to York was a temporary escape from my home life,” says the student.
“To combat this, I try to work out, go for walks, or just unwind and play some games.”
“Simply adding ad hoc services or siloed programs will not address the problem. Throwing money at the problem with no strategy behind it will ultimately fail.”
Compacting these already concerning figures with the COVID-19 crisis only complicates the issues. If students were already struggling with mental health before the pandemic, how are they to cope now that resources seem scarce while the issues remain paramount?
Dr. Elizabeth Cawley, director of National Mental Health Strategy at Studentcare sheds some light on the current problems she sees in the approach to mental health treatment.
“Simply adding ad hoc services or siloed programs will not address the problem we are facing; we need a coordinated, strategic and systemic approach to the issue of post-secondary mental health. Throwing money at the problem with no strategy behind it will ultimately fail,” states Cawley in her op-ed “Post-Secondary Student Mental Health: We Cannot Do The Same Thing And Expect Different Results.”
The solution Dr. Cawley goes on to advocate for is known as the Stepped Care 2.0 © model. In her words, “it is the most effective, yet least resource-intensive treatment,” beginning with users reaching out to specialist services as required and depending on “the level of patient distress or need.”
This approach focuses on incorporating different intensities and diversified types of support for students to engage with, which Dr. Cawley states will increase the likelihood in students reaching out for support and finding the level of guidance best suited to them.
This approach is also geared towards supporting more effective therapist-patient relationships by matching students with professionals who share commonalities in language, culture, and gender identity, among other things.
One in five Canadians struggle with their mental health.
Dr. Cawley offers some pertinent advice in identifying when anxiety or depression, for example, may be crossing a certain threshold and should be met with support.
“Treat your mental health like you would your physical health. If something doesn’t feel right it is always better to have it checked out. Just like you wouldn’t wait years to see a doctor if you had a pain in your leg, if you feel there has been a change or things ‘just aren’t right’ it is always best to reach out for support.
“Recognize the early warning signs – eating more or less than usual, feeling lethargic or having trouble sleeping, feelings of panic. All of these can be early signs that something is not right and the earlier you seek out support the better the prognosis overall.”
In a message to the York community directly, Dr. Cawley conveys an important reminder: you are not alone.
“Reaching out for support when you are feeling vulnerable is incredibly brave, but it is important to take that first step, and the support services will be there to catch you. And you are not alone, one in five Canadians struggle with their mental health.
“Have the self-compassion to be kind to yourself and seek out support if you need it.”
