In what has been dubbed the “silent pandemic,” mental illness is on the rise among young Americans.
Even before the pandemic, experts were warning that growing reliance on social media and increasing academic pressures were having a negative impact on young people, and today surveys suggest that the majority of university students (around 60%) meet the criteria for at least one mental health problem.
As a faculty member at Bethune-Cookman University, I have seen the change in real time: There was a clear increase in mental health crisis incidents around the same time that students began returning to campus in November 2021.
Some are struggling with financial instability or anxiety about school or sports, while others are dealing with loneliness and uncertainty, but they all need and deserve our support.
So we began to take a closer look at these underlying issues and seek ways to intervene before students reach a crisis point.
When I was appointed president of B-CU’s student-athletes, I naturally sought to find ways to do more.
Wellness Workshop
Life as a college athlete isn’t always easy. In today’s competitive environment, players face immense pressure to excel on the court or field while also adapting to college life.
For many, this will be the first time they have had to create their own schedule and juggle multiple responsibilities: attending classes, studying, meeting the demands of practice and training, and finding opportunities to socialize with friends.
Organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) set benchmarks for academic achievement and graduation rates for student-athletes.
The school’s responsibility is to provide their teams with the tools they need to balance their academics and sports, maintain their grades and earn their degrees, and the only way to do that is to ensure that students are healthy both physically and mentally.
Bethune-Cookman University is working to incorporate mental wellness workshops as part of its regular athletic curriculum.
More than 60 students attended an information session led by Dr. Daniel Holler, associate professor of psychology, to learn about resilience and mental health. From there, the team hopes to introduce smaller sessions where athletes can ask questions, complete exercises and connect with their peers.
Yoga and “meditation corner”
Of course, it goes without saying that B-CU’s mental wellness efforts span the entire campus.
From needs-based support groups, to in-person yoga classes, to “meditation corners” where students can enjoy quiet time with guided meditation or music, we are committed to finding more ways to support all of our students every day.
Like many aspects of health, mental health is something we need to actively invest in, not passively, and now is the perfect time to take action.
As educators responsible for the wellbeing of young people, we need to respond to mental health needs with compassion and sensitivity, not stigma or shame.
Dr. Clarissa West White is the University Archivist at Bethune-Cookman University and the Faculty Representative for the Wildcats Athletics Department.
