What Mental Illness Is

1
What Mental Illness Is What It is Not

• Facts and conclusions about mental illness on
  college university campuses
• J. LaVelle Ingram, Ph.D.
• Director
• University Counseling Services

2
What Mental Illness Is

• According to the National Alliance on Mental
  Illness, mental illness is a medical condition
  that disrupts a persons thinking, feeling, mood,
  daily functioning and ability to relate to
  others. Mental illness often results in a
  diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary
  demands of life. (HealthNewsDigest.com) - New
  Brunswick, N.J.

3
Mental Illness is Not

• A major cause of violence in our society
• A key factor in most murders
• A reason to fear certain individuals
• The defining feature of any person

4
VA Tech 1 of the Story

• National crime statistics indicate that there
  have been more than 16,000 homicides per year in
  the United States since 2001.
• During that same period, there have been only 95
  on college campuses.
• U.S. Department of Education

5
VA Tech 1 of the Story
The murder rate in the U.S. is almost 44 times
higher than that of the college campus and the
aggravated assault rate is over 13 times
higher. U.S. Department of Education
6
VA Tech 1 of the Story

• With about 4,200 colleges documented in the
  United States, this data suggests that the
  average college can expect to experience a murder
  on campus about once every 265 years.
• U.S. Department of Education

7
Mentally Ill More Often Victims

• People with psychiatric disabilities are far
  more likely to be victims than perpetrators of
  violent crime. (Appleby, et.al., 2001)

8
Mentally Ill More Often Victims

• Researchers at North Carolina State University
  and Duke University found that people with
  severe mental illness
• Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis
  are 2 1/2 times more likely to be attacked, raped
  or mugged than the general population.
• ( Claudine Chamberlain. Victims, Not Violent
  Mentally Ill Attacked at a Higher Rate,
• ABC News).

9
Most Violent People are Normal

• Research has shown that the vast majority of
  people who are violent do not suffer from mental
  illnesses. (American Psychiatric Association,
  1994).

10
Most Violent People are Normal

• Compared with the risk associated with the
  combination of male gender, young age, and lower
  socioeconomic status, the risk of violence
  presented by (people with) mental disorder is (at
  most) modest. (Policy Research Associates,
  December 1994)

11
What Conclusions Can we Draw?

• Grohol (1996) concluded that
• Most people who suffer from a mental disorder
  are not violent there is no need to fear them.
  Embrace them for who they are normal human
  beings experiencing a difficult time, who need
  your open mind, caring attitude, and helpful
  support.

12
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• According to Spring 2006 data from the National
  College Health Assessment-
• 37 of college students reported that in the
  previous school year, they felt so depressed it
  was difficult to function.
• National Institute of Mental Health

13
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for
  people ages 10 to 24.
• And every year 1,100 U.S. college students commit
  suicide, while another 24,000 try to kill
  themselves.
• National Institute of Mental Health

14
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• The average onset age for many severe mental
  illnesses is 18 to 24.
• National Institute of Mental Health

15
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• 92 of directors believe that the number of
  students with severe psychological problems has
  increased in recent years.
• National Survey of Counseling Center Directors
  (2006)
• The International Association of Counseling
  Services, Inc.

16
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• Counseling Center Directors also reported that
  40 of their clients have severe psychological
  problems.
• National Survey of Counseling Center Directors
  (2006)
• The International Association of Counseling
  Services, Inc.

17
College Students Do Experience Mental Illnesses

• Counseling Center Directors reported that 32 of
  clients experience severe problems but can be
  treated successfully with available treatment
  modalities.
• National Survey of Counseling Center Directors
  (2006)
• The International Association of Counseling
  Services, Inc.

18
UMBC Students Presenting Problems Mental
Illnesses

• University Counseling Services data consistently
  identifies the major problems of UMBC students
  as
• Anxiety/Stress
• Depression
• Academic Problems
• Relationship Problems
• Time management/Procrastination

19
Students, faculty parents should be aware of
the following indicators that someone may be
experiencing some form of mental illness

• Noticeable Changes in Functioning or Appearance
  
• Marked changes in academic performance or
  behavior
• Change in personal hygiene or dress
• www.rutgers.edu www.HealthNewsDigest.com

20
Noticeable Changes in Functioning or Appearance

• Excessive absences or tardiness
• Dramatic weight loss or gain
• Asking instructor for help with personal problems

21
Problematic Classroom Behavior

• Avoiding or dominating discussions
• Disruptive classroom behavior Complaints from
  other students
• www.rutgers.edu
• www.HealthNewsDigest.com

22
Pervasive Interpersonal Problems

• Unusual problems with roommate or family
• Isolation from friends or family
• www.rutgers.edu
• www.HealthNewsDigest.com

23
Excessive Emotionality

• Tearfulness Irritability or angry outbursts
  Intense emotion or inappropriate responses
• Apparent Thinking Problems
• Disjointed thoughts
• www.rutgers.edu
• www.HealthNewsDigest.com

24
Suicidal or Homicidal References

• References to suicide, homicide or death
• Expressed thoughts of helplessness or
  hopelessness
• References to suicide or homicide in verbal
  statements or writing
• www.rutgers.edu
• www.HealthNewsDigest.com

25
Conclusions

• Most college students experiencing emotional or
  psychological problems do not experience
  long-term mental illness.
• Most college students who do experience mental
  illness suffer depressive or anxiety disorders
  rather than schizophrenia or sociopathy.
• The most frequent danger of students suffering
  mental illnesses is to themselves rather than
  anyone else.

26
Conclusions

• You can play a role in helping people with mental
  illnesses simply by affording them the same
  dignity, respect and consideration that you would
  want for yourself or your loved ones. And by
  helping to disspell the dangerous myths about
  them.