Defeat stigma, protect your mental health

Sasha Hatinger

Staff Writer

Returning to school in the fall can be a lot for students to handle. Students are under an immense amount of pressure to succeed–juggling classes, sports, and clubs, while managing work and maintaining a home life can be hectic to the point that mental health goes on the back burner.

It matters, and there is still a stigma when it comes to mental health.

“More than half of people with mental illness don’t receive help for their disorders,” according to an article about the stigma regarding mental health on psychiatry.org.

The article also highlights that people usually do not seek treatment due to fear of retaliation from others in their everyday lives, “that’s because stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness are very much still a problem.”

Between adverse beliefs and absence of understanding from others, discrimination from disinformation, or self-shame, the stigma concerning mental health only perpetuates suffering.

Hope Bernard, faculty of Drama and Film at WCC, recognizes the many roles that students have. She talks about mental health for students returning to school this fall saying, “Just know that you’re not alone.” 

WCC has many resources available for students to discuss and work on their mental health in a safe environment.

Jim Bauer, licensed professional counselor (LPC)/case manager at WCC’s personal counseling office, located on the second floor of the Student Center, offers insight to the resources available for current students.

“We’ve got a few,” Bauer said. “We provide a short-term solution focused style of counseling.” Students can receive services in person, or via Zoom, if the student is in the state of Michigan.

Another service offered is, “After Hours Crisis Resources–Mental Health,” which can be found online at the Personal Counseling Office’s website, or by calling, “833-WCC-4-YOU.” Students can call the hotline anytime and talk about anything.

Taking advantage of the resources available is just the first step. “Know your resources. Know where you can get support. Build your support network,” Bauer said. “Talk to the people, come up with game plans and how you’re going to take care of your vulnerabilities.”

Israel Shriki, a journalism student at WCC offers sincere and solid advice for students returning to WCC this fall who learn that a peer is struggling with their mental health.

“My natural behavior will be to reach out to this person and try to be friendly with them and try to speak to them and or listen to them, and try to be a friend,” Shriki said. “I feel that there is a lot of support at WCC regarding mental health, and it’s something we should pay attention to, because it’s very important. It’s part of life.”

Support is available for students returning to school this fall that are in need, from staff and peers.

It is time to take action to end the stigma surrounding mental health. “I think it’s a two-part thing,” Bernard said. “Be willing to share, combined with being willing to listen to someone else.”

According to Bauer, students can help reduce the stigma by being supportive of other students. “Having a huge dose of empathy,” Bauer said. “Recognizing that they are human just like you and deserving of love and compassion and respect, just like you could go a long way in reducing the mental health stigma.”

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