How Colleges Can Fail on Students' Mental Health

The Wellness Check

This past week I had a wellness check done on me after posting something on social networking that led others to think which i was a danger to myself. I personally use social networking to tell my story and also to express both the good and the bad realities I accept each day. By doing so, I really hope to help others realize that it is okay to become vulnerable and to not be okay sometimes. I'm in a better place than I was but unfortunately I'm still struggling every day to really make it. This could be when people get concerned. I understand, but there must also be considered a better approach when confronted with students’ mental health crises.

A Traumatic Experience

For the wellness check, We had to speak with university workers despite not wanting to do so. Basically did not, I would have been began campus or come to a hospital despite telling them I had no plan to hurt myself. They are fully aware my situation (I have no home), yet they told me I would need to go home. This only made matters worse as I had previously seen my university as my home. Apparently, this is not the case. Now Personally i think like I don't belong anywhere even moreso than I already did.

Stop “Fixing” Us

You cannot just force students to talk to you once they don't feel ready. You cannot tell them “hospitalization it is” every time they express that they're not okay. This makes it hard to speak with you, since you lead us to believe that something is wrong with us when in reality there is certainly not wrong with us.

The Mental Health of school Students

Universities need to do better and treat students in crisis with kindness and respect. Provide them with power within the situation (do not choose for them). Allow them room to breathe. You traumatize us by forcing yourselves into our rooms, not leaving us alone until we comply with one of your options. We have no say whatsoever about what is the best for us during these situations. We know what's best, however, you tell us otherwise. Do better!