I am writing this as a incredibly saddened member of the Penn
community, the president of a new mental health awareness
group on campus called Open Minds, an undergraduate
classmate of Jose Joseph and the sister of an Ivy League college
student who, too, committed suicide less than two years ago.
My brother's story was (unfortunately) typical of the hundreds of
students who suffer from depression, anxiety or a variety of other
mental health problems. He "got sick" with an undiagnosed
mental illness during his freshman year of college. Two-and-a-half
years later, he finally went and talked to a therapist at his
school.
He suffered those two-and-a-half years in dire pain, with
immense feelings of loneliness and solitude, before letting
anyone into his world. He was scared to admit that something
could be wrong because he had been the near-perfect teenager
that we all seemed to be, and did not understand what was
happening to him. Tragically, his story ended a short time later,
when he decided the pain was just too much to bear, and he
ended it. Just as Jose did, just as too many other college students
do.
I want to thank The Daily Pennsylvanian for its extraordinarily
informative and much needed piece on depression ("Under
pressure," 10/30/01). Mental health issues are just as important
as those surrounding physical health. Yet as a society, we tend to
ignore them as though they don't exist or cannot be helped. So
those who are unfortunate enough to become sick not only feel the
implications of their illness, but the stigma of being labeled
imperfect and blameworthy by the common sentiment of our
society, and the belief that they are completely alone in their
struggle.
But mental illness is real. One out of every four women and one
out of every 10 men will suffer from clinical depression in his or
her lifetime; half of whom report its onset before the age of 20.
Bipolar depression, which typically develops in late adolescence
or early adulthood, affects one out of every 100 people. Seventy-five
percent of schizophrenic patients become ill between the ages of
15 and 25. And researchers have estimated that as many as 20 to
30 percent of college-age women may display bulimic and/or
anorexic behaviors.
Just as real as the illnesses are the numerous resources
available for those who choose to seek help. Counseling and
Psychological Services provides free, confidential services to all
Penn students. There are national organizations like the National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the National Mental Health Campaign
and the National Institute of Mental Health that can provide
information and support to sufferers and their families. Friends are
always there to lean on, as well.
The support is out there, but something must be done to make it a
comfortable environment so people feel they can reach out and get
it. We have to change the "hush hush" attitude about mental health
issues that is so characteristic of our society. There is no reason
for it, especially here on a campus that prides itself on its
"acceptance of all."
Everyone deserves to be able to admit to psychological difficulties
and seek help without feeling alone or ashamed; everyone has a
right to enjoy life. Help is out there -- and you have every right to go
get it.
There is a new group on campus this year that I founded called
Open Minds, which is devoted to raising awareness about mental
health at Penn. Fact sheets and flyers are posted, authorities are
coming to speak and there will be a charity coffeehouse benefiting
the adolescents of a local psychiatric hospital tonight.
Please -- read the flyers, listen to the experts, support the cause
and let yourself learn. Too many of us are affected; there are too
many facts out there that people just don't recognize. It's time to
end the societal stigma of mental illness that starts with a simple
lack of understanding. We can do that, starting small, right here at
Penn.
My heart goes out to Jose's family and friends. As you struggle
with the unanswered questions and immense grief, my hope for
you is that it will only get easier with time.
Alison Malmon is a junior Psychology and
Sociology major from Potomac, Maryland.
Comments