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Mooney, L.A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2017, 2015). Understanding Social Problems (10th ed.) Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

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As college students, we need to forget about the stigmas and negative stereotypes associated with mental illness, and be open to talking to our peers about them. If we see that a classmate may be struggling with a mental illness, but is afraid to talk, we need to reach out, show them that we are available to talk, and offer to get them professional help. There are many ways to help others. There are school counselors/therapists, support groups, and hotlines that can be called. The NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Hotline: 1-800-950-6264.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.

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Some of the biggest ways to improve mental health care is by reducing stigmas associated with mental illness, making people more aware of their options for getting help, and improving access to mental health services.

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Mental health problems are common among college students. Those college students dealing with mental health problems are most commonly diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. This could be due to the amount of stress college students are under. Many college students don't seek help due to fear of being labeled and judged because of the stigmas attached to mental illnesses.

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The U.S. has the highest rate of mental illness compared to 16 other nations. "About half of all americans will experience some form of mental disorder in their lifetime, with the first onset usually occurring in childhood or adolescence" (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, pg. 35).

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Mental disorders classified by the American Psychiatric Association

Anxiety Disorders

Dissociative Disorders (ex. multiple personality)

Disorders first evident in infancy, childhood, or adolescence(ex. stuttering, ADHD, Mental retardation)

Eating or sleeping disorders (ex. anorexia, insomnia)

Impulse Control disorders (ex. pathological gambling)

Mood Disorders ( ex. depression, bipolar disorder)

Organic Mental Disorders (ex. Alzheimer's disease)

Personality disorders

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

Somatoform disorders (ex. hypochondria)

Substance-related disorders (ex. alcohol abuse)

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Mental illness is an epidemic that people aren't as aware about as other problems, due to the stigmas attached to mental illnesses. The book says, "Mental illness is a 'hidden epidemic' because shame and embarrassment associated with mental problems discourage people from acknowledging and talking about them" (Mooney, Knox, & Schacht, pg. 34). Many people think of negative stereotypes when thinking of someone with mental illness. Due to stigmas, people may think mental illnesses are contagious or that people with mental illnesses are violent. This isn't the case. Mental illnesses can't be caught and having a mental illness doesn't make someone violent.

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Includes our psychological, emotional, and social well-being

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Physical and mental health are connected. Each one can affect the other in many ways. For example, people with cancer are likely to experience depression. Having depression can reduce their chances of recovering, survival time, and feeling better. Treating depression and other mental illnesses can help the body in many ways.

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"Refers collectively to all mental disorders, which are characterized by sustained patterns of abnormal thinking, mood (emotions), or behaviors that are accompanied by significant distress and/or impairment in daily functioning" (Mooney, Knox, Schacht, pg. 33-34).