New Quadcast: Dr. David Henderson on Trauma-informed Care and Addressing Cultural Difference in College Mental Health
In Ep. 25 of the Quadcast, MCI interviews Dr. David Henderson, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Boston Medical Center and Professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, who talks with us about the importance of acknowledging trauma and cultural difference when addressing the mental health needs of college students, now more than ever. With practical insights from his work in both resource limited countries and at an urban, community-serving health care center, Dr. Henderson provides advice and direction on how to better serve all students, from those of color and lower income, to those with serious mental health conditions.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
The Wall Street Journal published an in-depth analysis revealing Facebook’s knowledge of how Instagram, owned by Facebook Inc., has significant effects on young adult mental health and wellbeing. The company found that Instagram is most harmful for teen girls. In a March 2020 slide presentation, Facebook researchers said, “Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,” and “we make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls.” According to documents reviewed by the WSJ, Facebook made minimal efforts to address issues and release its research publicly. “The tendency to share only the best moments, a pressure to look perfect and an addictive product can send teens spiraling toward eating disorders, an unhealthy sense of their own bodies and depression,” March 2020 internal research states.
As part of National Suicide Prevention Awareness month, The Jed Foundation will be sharing resiliency and mental health tips for young adults throughout September. Additionally, resources for caregivers, higher education professionals, and high school teachers are provided. Developing resilience is a key theme for the Jed Foundation’s current campaign, given the heightened stress levels from the COVID-19 pandemic among students returning to campus life. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young adults.
Other News
North Jersey news reports on college students in New Jersey experiencing depression, burnout, and anxiety as campuses reopen.
The University of Central Florida’s Counseling and Psychological Services is offering a new peer-to-peer support system for students. The app, Togetherall, provides anonymous chat messaging for students to share feelings and is monitored by licensed mental health professionals.
Montana State University receives a $1.9 million grant to address mental health care needs in western Montana. Most of the funds will provide stipends to continue a program that trains students in mental health care.
Marquette University student TJ Dysart writes about National Suicide Prevention Month and how having more conversations about mental health can decrease stigma and increase the likelihood that someone in crisis gets the help they need.
In an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, Harvey J. Graff, professor emeritus at the Ohio State University, discusses how colleges can learn from sports figures about mental health.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Washington Post reports that HBCU advocates and university leaders are urging congress to deliver on resources needed at minority-serving institutions. On Tuesday, a group of 19 HBCU leaders sent a letter to Congress asking to improve education facilities, accessibility to healthcare, increase high-speed broadband connection, and increase the number of HBCUs to provide better quality research.
A new study from UnidosUS, a Latinx civil rights organization, and the University of North Carolina’s School of Law found that Latinx students face more transportation barriers to college completion and disproportionately fear student loan debt compared to their peers. Problems with transportation (lacking reliable access to a car, taking public transportation, paying for transportation, etc.) were 19% more of an obstacle to graduating for Latinx students than for other students. Additionally, Latinx students’ attitudes towards borrowing and taking out loans for college coincided with other barriers such as work and family responsibilities.
Sexual Assault and Title IX
In an op-ed for Diverse Education, Executive Director of It’s On Us, Tracey Vitchers, writes about engaging men in the fight against campus sexual assault. After national news circulated about a 17-year-old female student that was assaulted and left on the front lawn of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house at University of Nebraska Lincoln, Vitchers says, “this incident comes at a time of year on college campuses known as the ‘Red Zone,’ the first weeks of the fall semester when campus sexual assaults are most likely to occur.” Vitchers says, “Most young men do not feel empowered to intervene because of a combination of peer pressure, lack of education and skill building, and lack of institutional accountability for those who commit sexual violence.”
Student Success
New federal data from the U.S. Department of Education reveals declines in enrollment and retention from the past academic year. The Chronicle’s analysis shows that public colleges saw the largest revenue drops with freshman classes having the greatest declines in enrollment. College and university enrollment numbers fell by 651,774 students.
A new report featured in Higher Ed Dive shows that fewer students applying to college submitted admissions test scores last year. Data from the Common App shows that two-fifths of students submitted SAT and ACT scores compared to three-fourths of college students from the previous academic year. The pandemic has led to a shut down of testing sites for college entry exams, however, policy experts believe test-optional admissions trends will continue. For the fall of 2022, over two-thirds of four-year institutions are not requiring SAT and ACT scores.
College Affordability
A new survey of Americans’ opinions on the value of college shows differences based on political affiliation, age group and income. On Tuesday, the Association of American Colleges and Universities and Bipartisan Policy Center released the results, which examined responses from 2,200 American adults. According to the data, “six in 10 American adults say that a college degree is worth the time and money.” Wealthy, college-educated Americans and democrats are more inclined to say college degrees are “definitely” or “probably” worth the return on investment. Only a third said that “exposure to STEM fields is important to career success.”
Basic Needs
On Wednesday, advocates and legislators urged congress to address issues of food insecurity and hunger on college campuses. Solutions that were recommended included expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to part-time college students, funding public colleges through a national “Hunger Free Campus” program, and more. Sara Goldrick-Rab, founder and president of the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University said, “These initial actions by colleges and universities and a handful of states are a good start but far from sufficient to address a problem that affects at least five million college students.”
Coronavirus: Safety and Reopening
Inside Higher Ed reports findings from a new survey conducted by Liaison International that shows differences in COVID policies varying by region. Approximately 84% of respondents from the West said their colleges had a mask mandate, followed by 73% of Northeast and Midwest respondents, and only 53% of Southern respondents. The survey report says, “Institutions in the South, faculty and staff reported, are far more likely to reopen and hold in-person classes, while colleges and universities in the Northeast were the least likely to be open to students. Colleges and universities in the South and Midwest are less likely to require vaccines for faculty, staff or students, while institutions in the Western United States are more likely to ask faculty and staff members to vaccinate.”
