Student Mental Health at UMBC
Jennifer Treger, Student Affairs and Melissa Hoffman, Counseling Center
College is a time of change, challenge, and transition. While transition can be exciting and growth-producing, it can also be stressful. Recognizing the signs of distress can be an important step in keeping your student healthy. A student’s mental health is as important as their physical health. When there are signs that a student’s mental health is compromised, these signs may need to be addressed.
What are the signs to look for?
People in distress or mental health crises do not all experience the same symptoms. The severity, frequency, and duration of symptoms vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness.
Signs and symptoms may include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Irritability, restlessness, anger
Withdrawal from activities or hobbies once pleasurable
Fatigue and decreased energy
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
Overeating, appetite loss, or change in eating habits
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
Thinking/talking/writing/e-mailing/texting/posting about suicide
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease with medical treatment.
Not attending class, changes in grades
Demonstrating bizarre behavior
Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
We have several resources and programs on our campus to educate about mental health as well as resources for students who are looking to improve their overall emotional well-being:
Mental Health First Aid: Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour training that teaches people to recognize the symptoms of mental health problems and provides information on how to get help. Mental Health First Aid does NOT teach people to be therapists. The dates of the upcoming session are:
Friday, September 27th and Friday, October 4th (you must attend both sessions)
Sessions will be from 1-5 PM in The University Center, room 310. Please contact Jennifer Treger at jtreger@umbc.edu for more information or to register. This program is free and open to parents.
Counseling Center: If you know or observe someone to be troubled, confused, very sad, highly anxious, irritable, lacking in motivation and/or concentration, demonstrating bizarre behavior, or thinking/talking, writing/e-mailing/texting about suicide please contactUMBC Counseling Center at 410-455-2472. The Counseling Center offers free and confidential services to all current UMBC students in the form of short-term individual, couples, or group counseling as well as workshops, campus presentations, and self-help resources.
Emergencies: If you know or observe that someone is a potential harm to him/herself or someone else please contact University Police at 410-455-5555 (on campus) or 911 (off campus).
Behavioral Concerns: Some UMBC community members may find themselves confronted with a situation in which they feel uncertain, uncomfortable or disturbed by an individual’s behavior, whether in class, in the workplace or at a meeting or event. University Police (410-455-5555) Student Judicial Programs (410-455-2453), Student Affairs Office (410-455-2393) and members of theBehavioral Risk Assessment and Consultation Team (BRACT) are a resource for you and can help you deal with the situation. . BRACT is an interdisciplinary team that examines reports of concerning behavior to help identify persons whose behaviors may endanger their own or other’s health and safety.
Just in Case Mobile and Web App: The Just in Case App is a new resource for the UMBC community. Just in Case is a mobile and web application that provides students, faculty, and parents with on and off-campus mental health resources. Just in Case provides users with information for how to handle a mental health emergency, and includes helpful tips for students in distress. This app can be accessed by clicking:http://counseling.umbc.edu/justincase. To install this app on a smart phone, simply access the link on your device and follow the “instructions for download.”
At UMBC, we are committed to ensuring student success by offering these resources for mental health education, awareness, prevention and intervention. It is important to encourage your student to seek out the resources they need to be successful. If you are concerned about your student, do not hesitate to seek consultation and support. At UMBC, students with mental health concerns are never alone.