Mental illness is extremely prevalent in society today. And yet the average person thinks that mental illness only affects “other” people and certainly not members of their own family. A common perception of mental illness is of a homeless person or a “psychopath” on a violent rampage. The social stigma can lead those dealing with less obvious mental illnesses to hide them. As if this were not enough, what happens when parents fail to recognize mental illness in their children because of such perceptions? Or what if, due to concerns about social stigma, parents of a college student suffering from mental illness try to hide it from others? How would that make the student feel?
A mental illness is defined as a condition that affects a person’s …show more content…
The guidebook notes the warning signs of mental illness, provides resources for students, and explains how parents can get access to their adult children’s protected health information (Rhodan). This guide gives insight into how to start the conversation on mental illness, the common signs of a mental health condition, tips for navigating college, and many other things. It is a great resource for parents with a child who has a mental illness. It has a section about navigating college. This section has a list of certain factors that cause stress and can affect mental health. Some of these stressors include academic pressures, feeling alone or homesick, inadequate sleep, unmet expectations, and many more (NAMI Guide). It also has a great section on the common signs of mental health condition which is great for parents who may be concerned for their child, or students in general as things to look for when determining a mental health condition. Some of these common signs include feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks or intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities. The ultimate goal of the guidebook is to encourage discussions between parents and students, which will hopefully help reduce the stigma and encourage students to talk to their parents when issues first arise (Rhodan). It …show more content…
In her case, her son got the help he needed, began attending a community college, and is making good grades (Rhodan). Unfortunately, far too many of these cases end with suicide, violence against others, or both, as in the case of the student from Virginia Tech University who gunned down 32 students and faculty members and then killed himself
A mental illness is defined as a condition that affects a person’s …show more content…
The guidebook notes the warning signs of mental illness, provides resources for students, and explains how parents can get access to their adult children’s protected health information (Rhodan). This guide gives insight into how to start the conversation on mental illness, the common signs of a mental health condition, tips for navigating college, and many other things. It is a great resource for parents with a child who has a mental illness. It has a section about navigating college. This section has a list of certain factors that cause stress and can affect mental health. Some of these stressors include academic pressures, feeling alone or homesick, inadequate sleep, unmet expectations, and many more (NAMI Guide). It also has a great section on the common signs of mental health condition which is great for parents who may be concerned for their child, or students in general as things to look for when determining a mental health condition. Some of these common signs include feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks or intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities. The ultimate goal of the guidebook is to encourage discussions between parents and students, which will hopefully help reduce the stigma and encourage students to talk to their parents when issues first arise (Rhodan). It …show more content…
In her case, her son got the help he needed, began attending a community college, and is making good grades (Rhodan). Unfortunately, far too many of these cases end with suicide, violence against others, or both, as in the case of the student from Virginia Tech University who gunned down 32 students and faculty members and then killed himself