College Students Majoring in Major Depressive Disorder
Plus questionable apps and outdoor therapy
College isn’t just all about hackying one’s sack and throwing frisbees on the quad
If we are to believe a comprehensive survey, it’s also about a huge mental health crisis going on right now. This week’s podcast episode is about that crisis and a few of its many facets.
The numbers are daunting. 60% of college students meet the criteria for a mental health disorder. 44% report depression symptoms, 37% for anxiety, and 15% in a recent survey were considering suicide. Dr. Jessi Gold, Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee System, says these bleak figures come at a time when there is more awareness and openness about mental health than ever before, especially among young people. So is this particular mental health crisis getting worse or is it getting better? Or are we just now becoming aware of how bad it’s been all along? And what can be done?
A few important points Dr. Gold makes:
We should be careful about pathologizing feelings. Not everything is a disorder.
Professors, coaches, and administrators are on the front lines of this crisis and that is not a place they are trained for or prepared to handle.
Those same non-students are also in a mental health crisis of their own.
Awareness is great but it’s not the same thing as knowing how to address and improve a mental health situation
Mental health apps are under scrutiny
There are zillions, modest estimate, of mental health apps on the market, many of which seem to promise you something approximating something that is sort of kind of like therapy…ish. The Guardian has a good rundown on some of the problems built into these apps.
Caltrider points out that in the US, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects the communications between a doctor and patient. However, she says, many users don’t realise that there are loopholes that digital platforms can use to circumvent HIPAA. “Sometimes you’re not talking to a licensed psychologist, sometimes you’re just talking to a trained coach and none of those conversations are going to be protected under health privacy law,” she says. “But also the metadata around that conversation – the fact that you use an app for OCD or eating disorders – can be used and shared for advertising and marketing. That’s something that a lot of people don’t necessarily want to be collected and used to target products towards them.”
This newsletter is free. But it does take time and effort to provide the world with the newsletter and the Depresh Mode podcast.
If you’ve already donated, thank you. If not, go here, pick a level that works for you, then select DEPRESH MODE from the list of shows. And thank you.
I can talk to you if you want me to
One of my favorite things to do in the world is travel places to give speeches. I have spoken to community groups, corporations, schools, and just about everywhere else. A fun run, once. Another time at the Carter Center in Atlanta. I give speeches about mental health and wellness, delayed covid trauma, the optimism I have for fighting mental health stigma, and more. The speeches are well-received, judging from the rave feedback I’ve been receiving. Perhaps you would like me to come talk to your group? It’s easy to arrange! Just visit Collective Speakers and get in touch with my friends there.
It’s a sunny day, let’s have therapy outside
New York Times reports on the good results and fresh air to be had by taking therapy clients into the woods. And then bringing them back presumably.
Dr. Schreiber-Pan is one of a growing number of therapists who are taking their therapy sessions outdoors and, in some cases, training other counselors to do the same. They say that combining traditional talk therapy with nature and movement can help clients feel more open, find new perspectives and express their feelings, all while helping them connect with the outside world.
“It’s a sense of belonging to something bigger — and that is, I think, a really powerful ‘aha!’ moment for a lot of people,” Dr. Schreiber-Pan said. As humans evolved they spent much of their time outdoors, she added, yet our modern life is mostly spent indoors, looking at digital devices.
On Sleeping with Celebrities: Laurie Kilmartin
Let her put you to sleep with comedy an anime.
Laurie Kilmartin is a veteran comic, a best-selling author, and an Emmy-nominated writer for Conan. She is also a newly minted anime fan, coming to it initially as a pandemic bonding activity with her 17-year-old son. He tricked her into enjoying animated violence, sexy wizards, and the occasional bit of cannibalism. Laurie also asks the big pop culture questions: How did Daryl from The Walking Dead get to France? Was the ever-dashing Kimba a white lion or a white tiger? Why would you name one character Light and another L? Join Laurie as she gently guides you through the anime pipeline and into dreamland.
Hello, I'm glad you and this podcast/newsletter are here. Re end-of-ep info: 988 is now a nationwide 24/7 helpline in Canada too! 988 dot ca