Changing Minds on Mental Health
The stigma around seeking mental health support
—By Divya Suresh
On a rainy fall afternoon, Katie Jones, a pre-med senior at the University of Michigan, sat in the library with her textbooks spread across the table. To those walking by, she looked like any other student studying in the library for an exam. But deep inside, Jones was struggling to manage her anxiety. She felt like she was spiraling and her mind was out of control, but she had no way to silence her thoughts. She had contemplated reaching out to talk to someone several times, but each time, something stopped her. This hesitation is not unique. Despite increasing awareness of mental health on college campuses, many students still deal with various pressures that prevent them from seeking help.
At a university as competitive as U of M, the stigma around mental health can feel especially overwhelming. Whether it’s because of cultural expectations, fear of judgment, or other misconceptions about counseling, these barriers stop students from reaching out to resources that could significantly improve their well-being. But with anxiety, depression, and burnout levels increasing among college students, overcoming the barriers to accessing mental health support has never been more important.
College: the perfect storm for mental health issues
College is often portrayed as any exciting time where students gain freedom and opportunities for personal growth. However, it can also be a stressful time for many students. On top of coping with academic pressure, the majority of students have to deal with separation from their family and being independent for what is most likely the first time in their lives, worrying about paying tuition, and other potential living expenses. Due to all of these stressors, many college students tend to experience the first onset of mental health and substance use problems.
The issue of mental health among college students has become increasingly urgent in recent years. The rate of depression and anxiety has almost doubled in the past 9 years according to a study by the university’s Healthy Minds Network. According to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment, over 75% of college students reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress, but only 35.2% of students actually reached out for help. Many attribute this reluctance to stigma, a barrier that prevents students from reaching out for help. Especially at a “work hard play hard” college like U of M, there is already incredible pressure to excel academically and socially, and so the fear of being judged as “weak” often outweighs the benefits of seeking help. This reluctance contributes to untreated mental health conditions, which can then progress into other issues like lower grade point averages, being more likely to dropout, and unemployment, and more serious issues like poor academic performance, substance abuse, or even suicidal thoughts.
Beyond the immediate emotional toll that mental health issues can take, there are several long-term physiological consequences. According to an article by Dr. Eric Harshfield, mental health issues have a significant link with cardiovascular disease incidence. Although it can be scary to reach out for help, it is necessary for long-term health conditions.
The role of cultural and social pressures
Mental health stigma is a multifaceted issue that varies among students of different backgrounds. For some people, cultural beliefs play a large role in shaping how they view mental health support. In South Asian communities, for example, there is often an emphasis on maintaining a strong, resilient exterior. As Diya Nambiar, a psychology major at U of M who works as an individual peer counselor at CAPS, explains, “Growing up, I was always told to handle my problems internally. Talking to a counselor or therapist was never even an option.” Diya’s experience is something that many students deal with, especially students from minority backgrounds who feel added pressure to live up to familial expectations.
Social dynamics can also contribute to this reluctance. “There’s this expectation here that you should be able to balance everything,” says Nambiar. “Many students think that if they seek help, it’s a sign they’re failing and that they’re automatically inferior to other students who seem to be able to do it all.” This pressure to maintain a facade of competence and success can prevent students from reaching out for help when they need it the most. Her reflection on these expectations prompted her to become a counselor herself, in hopes to overcome such stigma and help other students as well.
Beyond cultural and social differences, there is also limited representation among mental health professionals who are able to understand and empathize with those who might be from cultures outside of the US, and this might pose a barrier to international students. For such students, these challenges, in addition to feeling alienated due to their foreign background, could further prevent them from reaching out for help when they might need it most. “Specifically graduate students that feel more removed from U of M communities often don’t know how to access help or resources when they’re struggling with adjustment, language barriers, or homesickness”, says Nambiar.
The role of internal pressures
Aside from these external influences, some people have a hard time themselves accepting that they are dealing with mental health issues and might need to reach out for help. Self-stigma—the belief that needing help shows weakness—is unfortunately quite prevalent among people who struggle with mental health issues. Speaking with Jones allowed me to see just how common this issue is. Although she was hesitant at first, she got a therapist and says it changed her life. During our conversation, I learned how Jones used to choose to deal with her anxiety on her own instead of facing her family and friends and asking for help. The problem was rooted in the negative stereotypes associated with mental health issues, making her feel shame rather than prompting her to seek help.
This internal struggle is rather common among high-achieving students. According to Nambiar, a lot of U of M students are “perfectionists,” many of whom have had it ingrained in their heads to equate their self-worth with their accomplishments. “Seeking mental health support feels like admitting defeat for some students,” Nambiar explains. “For these students, it’s not just about what others think, but how they perceive themselves.”
Structural barriers: access and awareness
While the stigma itself is a significant barrier, structural issues also prevent students from getting the help they need. Despite the availability of services like Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), students sometimes encounter long wait times or simply just don’t know about the resources available.
Martha Johnson, a Junior at U of M shares, “My freshman year, I struggled a lot with my friend groups and classes. I felt like nothing was going well for me and I had no one to talk to, so I decided to book an appointment with a therapist. Not only did it take me a long time to find a therapist that accepted my insurance, I had to wait weeks for them to have an opening.” “It was really discouraging. I felt like I wasted my time trying to seek help.”
When asked if she knew about services like CAPS, which has 24/7 support and other resources tailored to student needs, she admitted that she wasn’t aware of them. “Honestly, I wish I had known sooner,” she said. “I didn’t know where to start, so I tried looking for therapists on my own, and it just became overwhelming. Even though I had heard of CAPS, no one really talks about what it can offer or how to access those services.”
This lack of awareness is common among students, many of whom are unfamiliar with the support available on campus. Even when students are aware, there are misconceptions about the accessibility of services that prevent them from actually seeking help. “I always assumed CAPS would be too fully booked and not have the time for someone like me,” Johnson added. “I thought you had to be in an absolute crisis in order to get an appointment.” These structural issues, on top of just a general lack of advertisement about existing resources, create additional barriers for students who are already struggling to manage their mental health.
Furthermore, misconceptions about counseling prevent students from even attempting to access resources. “Some students believe that going to therapy means they have a serious problem,” says Dr. Marcella Beaumont, a psychologist at CAPS. “They don’t realize that it can also be a proactive way to cope with stress or prevent burnout.” These misconceptions, combined with a lack of targeted outreach, leave many students unaware of the support options available to them.
Efforts to destigmatize mental health on campus
Despite these barriers, however, there have been efforts on campus to reduce the stigma around seeking help. “CAPS has a fairly large social media outreach, which I think has helped with getting certain initiatives out there and more accessible to the UofM community”, says Nambiar. Although these initiatives exist, there are challenges in reaching the students who need them the most. “There’s still a gap between awareness and action,” says Nambiar. “Students might know about the resources, but actually taking the step to use them is a whole other issue.”
One promising approach is peer-led support programs that give students the opportunity to interact with communities they identify with, and hopefully can understand and empathize with each others’ struggles. For example, there are trans and nonbinary empowerment groups, election stress support groups, eating and body image workshops. “Sometimes, it’s easier to open up to someone who’s been in your shoes,” says Nambiar. “Having a peer to talk to can reduce that initial fear of being judged.”
A group effort
Society needs to actively work on reducing the stigma associated with mental health, as the challenges surrounding it are so much more than just an individual issue. Students and faculty have to come together to create an environment where seeking help is normalized and accessible. By addressing the various barriers discussed in this article, the University of Michigan can work towards fostering a more open and supportive environment for those who may be struggling. As Jones reflected on her experience with counseling, she mentioned “I think getting therapy was one of the best things I could have done for myself. Even though it took a while to find the right therapist and admit to myself that I even needed one, I am so glad I did it and I look forward to meeting with her each week. It has truly changed my life and made me a much happier person, and I think anyone who is even considering getting a therapist should go ahead and get one.”
Feature Photo: “Phone a Friend” notecard, by Dustin Belt on Unsplash