Improving the mental health of college students

Wofford senior Helen Lamm has struggled with an eating disorder for years.

Because of the experience, the Chinese major from Florence, S.C., now knows the value of speaking up, and she’s helping others do the same by reviving the college’s charter of Active Minds, a nonprofit that empowers students to change the perception of mental illness on college campuses.

“It’s something that never leaves you. It doesn’t matter if you’re healthy or not. That’s where being louder than your mental illness comes into play,” says Lamm. “I told myself that even if I wasn’t comfortable telling the first person, I would be more comfortable telling the second … and the third … it snowballs, and all of a sudden you feel comfortable — even confident — talking about your problems, and that inspires other people to do the same. That’s the kind of conversation I want at Wofford.”

Lamm and other student leaders of Active Minds are pleased that Wofford is taking support of mental health seriously. The college recently joined the JED Campus Program, a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation to enhance student well-being and boost efforts to prevent substance abuse and suicide prevention.

“Mental health involves so many factors — stress, self care, cultural changes. The college years are also a time when mental health issues first manifest. It’s a complex issue,” says Perry Henson, the college’s director of counseling and accessibility services. “By becoming a JED Campus, Wofford will be able to look critically at how we are supporting the emotional health of our students and find practical ways to augment these efforts. A campus-wide approach to mental health will lead to a safer, healthier Wofford community.”

As a JED Campus, Wofford will embark on a multi-year strategic collaboration to continue the college’s work to improve mental health and create positive, lasting, systemic change where needed. The JED Campus Program provides schools with a framework for supporting student mental health, as well as assessment tools, feedback reports and ongoing technical assistance from the JED Campus team of clinicians. Program participation involves the establishment of a Mental Health Advisory Board. This newly formed team will coordinate the college’s efforts to assess, support and enhance mental health promotion and substance abuse and suicide prevention programming on campus over the next four years.

This fall Active Minds has held their first meetings and events to raise awareness for mental health. The college’s Wellness Center also brought therapy dogs to the campus several times as stress relievers and has sponsored other events designed to educate college students on healthy habits that will improve mental health.

“I’m optimistic that we are moving in the right direction,” says Lamm. “I just know I want to be loud and try.”

JED is a national nonprofit that exists to protect the emotional health of our country’s 40 million high school and college students and reduce the risks of substance abuse and suicide. Visit TheCampusProgram.org for more information.

by Sarah Madden, Wofford Class of 2017