Erin Reilly – HQ Press

Learning to cope: College students face unique mental health struggles

Here are some of their stories.

By Erin Reilly

College can be a challenging experience for many students. But for those with mental illnesses, the typical college struggles can be amplified.

Mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression, have been a growing concern on college campuses in recent years.

According to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment from fall 2016, almost 20 percent of students reported being diagnosed with or treated for anxiety within the past year and 15.2 percent were diagnosed with or treated for depression.

However, not all students seek mental health treatment, so the actual rates of anxiety and depression could be higher. In fact, the same survey found that 60.8 percent of all students said they had felt overwhelming anxiety and 38.2 percent felt so depressed that it was difficult to function within the past year.

Not only are anxiety and depression the most common mental health problems among college students, but the distress levels associated with them are also on the rise. According to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health’s 2016 annual report, students’ distress levels for depression, generalized anxiety and social anxiety have increased the past six years. Meanwhile, distress levels for other concerns have decreased or remained constant.

The prevalence of these mental health issues may be due to the distinct situation college students are in. This is the time when many people experience significant stress for the first time. For many students, it is also the first time they live on their own and take on more responsibility. The combination of these factors can worsen or trigger students’ mental illnesses.

At colleges across the country, including Quinnipiac University, students with mental illnesses have a unique experience. The interaction between the college environment and their illnesses can lead to challenges that aren’t shared with any other age group.

“Transition to college and other factors found on campus can highlight stressors that individuals thought they were able to handle in previous years,” Quinnipiac counselor Sheila van den Broeck said. “Being away from one’s support system can also add to the decrease in the individual’s ability to cope.”

Penny Leisring, a psychology professor at Quinnipiac, agrees. She says “stress and big transitions” and “being away from family and friends” are reasons why a student’s mental health might worsen while in college.

Stress, commonly caused by finances and academics, is a major concern for all college students. However, dealing with stress can be particularly hard for students also experiencing mental health problems.

American College Health Association; Center for Collegiate Mental Health — American College Health Association; Center for Collegiate Mental Health

When it comes to academics, depression and anxiety can have a negative effect. According to the ACHA’s fall 2016 assessment, nearly a quarter of students reported that anxiety affected their academic performance within the previous year and 15.4 percent said depression affected their academic performance. The effects on academics ranged from receiving a low grade to having to drop a class.

Students at Quinnipiac who see their academics affected by their struggles with mental illness can seek help at the Counseling Center.

“Poor academic performance can be a factor but we encourage the use of the Learning Commons and open dialogue with their professors,” van den Broeck said. “We also encourage learning strategies, deep breathing, and other techniques tailored to the student’s individual needs.”

Regardless of academic difficulties, all students suffering from a mental illness are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available to them on campus and beyond.

“There are many effective treatments for anxiety and depression like cognitive behavioral therapy,” Leisring said. “And there is an office on campus called the Office of Student Accessibility that can help students arrange appropriate accommodations if any are needed. For example, a student with a severe mental health problem may want to take a reduced course load, may need extra time for exams, etc.”

Many students do utilize these resources, including the Counseling Center. According to van den Broeck, the center has had 550 intakes this semester.

“Students attend counseling for a variety of behavioral health related issues,” van den Broeck said. “Some stemming from transition issues, interpersonal issues, stress-related symptoms and persistent illnesses.”

However, the Counseling Center isn’t perfect. It has a small staff and limited hours, which means students don’t always get as much help as they need.

Still, receiving professional counseling can be helpful to students in many ways. For one, it may be their only source of support. Many students with mental illnesses say they lack support from their family and friends, according to the CCMH’s 2016 report.

The lack of support may stem from the stigma that surrounds mental illness. People often label those who have a mental illness as “crazy.” They may also make assumptions that they are dangerous, criminal or unable to live normal lives. Due to these misconceptions, students with mental illnesses may feel judged or isolated. They may also be afraid to speak up about their issues.

These students may have much in common. However, mental illness does not affect everyone the same way. Every student faces different challenges and uses different coping methods. While research, data and expert’s statements are important, they cannot tell the whole story.

Each student’s voice deserves to be heard, so here are just a few of those voices.

ANNA’S STORY

Anna, a senior at Quinnipiac, has suffered from multiple anxiety disorders since she was in elementary school. Since then, her anxiety has progressively gotten worse. Starting college led to a spike in her symptoms and she had trouble adjusting.

“By the end of my freshman year, I thought I had made a huge mistake. I didn’t think I was cut out for college,” Anna said. “I started seriously considering dropping out or transferring to my community college at home or starting an online program. I just felt so alone and my anxiety was really interfering with my life and I was not coping well.”

Anna says the stress she experienced was a major factor in her considering to leave Quinnipiac. But unlike many students who consider dropping out, her grades were never suffering. Anna has always been a good student and gets mostly A’s. However, that doesn’t mean classes aren’t anxiety-inducing for her.

“Presentations and group projects are the worst. So are discussion-based classes. I obviously do much better in lectures with individual assignments so I can keep to myself,” Anna said. “If I can go a whole class without talking, I consider it a good class. But unfortunately I can’t always be that lucky. In many classes, I have to speak so I dread going to them and get very anxious before and during them.”

Anna’s anxiety often interferes with other aspects of her life as well.

“Everyday things that most people don’t think twice about are really difficult for me. People might mistake it as laziness or just not wanting to do something, but it is truly physically difficult for me,” Anna said. “Getting the mail, taking out the garbage, ordering food, going to an appointment, going to class – they are all so hard sometimes.”

Anna says most people are not aware of these kinds of issues that go along with anxiety She says she often feels misunderstood and judged.

“It can be really isolating,” Anna said. “I don’t feel like anybody really understands what I deal with.”

Feeling alone has been a common theme in Anna’s life. She says she has never had many friends. This stems from her social anxiety, which makes it difficult for her to interact with people.

“It’s really hard to make friends and that means I don’t have many people I can talk to about my issues, so I mostly just keep it all to myself and I feel like I am going to explode,” Anna said.

Anna also does not receive any professional help. She has not seen a therapist since she was younger, but she thinks she needs to seek help again. She knows she needs it and that it could make her life much better. However, it is not that simple for her.

“I want to see a therapist because of my anxiety, but I don’t want to see a therapist because of my anxiety,” Anna said. “I kind of get caught in this cycle because the thing I need help with is the thing that prevents me from getting help.”

While some days are harder than others, Anna feels like she is on the right track. She says the next year or so will be difficult, but she is trying to be optimistic about her future. Despite her anxiety, she is the kind of person who always tries to focus on the positives.

DAVID’S STORY

David is a Quinnipiac senior who has suffered from depression since he was in middle school. He has also had periods of feeling suicidal.

“When I was in middle school, I would walk to the train tracks in my town like every day and just sit there and contemplate jumping in front of the train,” David said.

Like Anna, David does not currently receive any professional help.

“In high school I kind of freaked out on my mom and told her I felt depressed and suicidal. Of course, then she made me go see a therapist. But that didn’t last long – just a couple weeks,” David said. “I just didn’t see how it could possibly help and I assured my mom that I was ok. In retrospect, I probably should have kept seeing the therapist. Maybe I wouldn’t have these issues anymore or I’d be able to cope in better ways.”

His current method of coping is by abusing alcohol and drugs.

“When everything gets too hard and too much to handle, I drink or smoke or take pills,” David said. “I know it’s not the right answer to my problems, but it seems to be the only thing that works.”

Though he has not felt suicidal in a few years, David says his depression has worsened while in college. Being away from family and having easier access to drugs and alcohol has had a negative impact on his mental health. However, people who know him may not be aware of that.

“Most people have no idea what I am going through. I’m pretty outgoing and seem to be in a good mood all the time, but it’s really just a show,” David said. “I hide everything pretty well. I used to have to work at hiding things, but now it is just natural to lie and pretend.”

ALEX’S STORY

Alex Nauta is a sophomore at Quinnipiac who is double majoring in marketing and operations and supply chain management. She has suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety since she was 8 years old.

OCD is significantly less common among college students, and in general, than depression and anxiety. According to the ACHA’s fall 2016 assessment, 3.2 percent of students were diagnosed with or treated for OCD within the previous year.

Ever since she was diagnosed as a child, Nauta has been in and out of intensive therapy. However, she maintains a positive view of her mental illnesses.

“I have gotten used to it for the most part,” Nauta said. “It has become a part of me and although at times it may set me back, it has given me some of my greatest strengths.”

But starting college had both positive and negative effects on her mental health. On the one hand, she says she did not have much trouble with adjusting.

“I am pretty resilient and adaptable and have always worked hard and done well academically,” Nauta said.

She also says college-related stress has not been a major factor in her mental health.

“For the most part, my stress has decreased since college,” Nauta said. “I thrive and am the happiest when I am busy.”

However, it hasn’t all been easy for Nauta.

“Due to the stigma of having a mental illness, my freshman year I had to switch roommates because my first room was uncomfortable with my medication” Nauta said. “They didn’t understand mental health and thought my medication classified me as crazy.”

The lack of acceptance from her peers was made harder by being away from her supportive family.

“I am extremely close to my family. I miss them in school and still call them every day,” Nauta said. “It is hard being away, but I know they are always there for me regardless of the struggles I am facing. I don’t go home often, but it is always great to go home and see them.”

To help deal with those struggles, Nauta takes advantage of the resources on Quinnipiac’s campus.

“I use the on-campus psychiatrist once or twice a semester and check in with the Counseling Center about once a month,” Nauta said.

Her other coping methods include running and making jewelry. The jewelry Nauta makes and sells is intended to raise awareness about mental illness and money for the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, which funds mental illness research. It is important to Nauta to do what she can to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

The uniqueness of the college years creates distinct challenges for students with mental illnesses. When they were younger, they had less stress that was weighing on them and exacerbating symptoms. As they grow older, they might have better coping methods and more control over their issues.

But during the transition from childhood to adulthood, dealing with a mental illness can be extremely difficult. With the added stress of finances and academics and the absence of a support system, students like Anna, David and Alex may struggle.

While every student doesn’t have the exact same experience or challenges, there are resources available that can be helpful to everyone at Quinnipiac who has mental health problems.

The Counseling Center provides students with individual counseling and support groups. Students can make an appointment with a counselor online through MyQ. Services are free and will not be billed to students’ insurance companies.
The Learning Commons provides students with academic support. It offers peer tutors to help any student who needs assistance with a class or assignment.
The Office of Student Accessibility makes accommodations for students with disabilities. Students can fill out a form to request an accommodation.
There are multiple therapists and psychiatrists nearby to Quinnipiac. They can provide therapy and medications if necessary. Psychology Today has a search engine to help people find psychiatrists that suit their needs and take their insurance.
There are also organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness that provide education and support and raise awareness about mental health.
Multiple helplines are also available to anyone who needs someone to talk to. Some can provide more information about certain issues while others serve as an intervention during a crisis.

The CVS-Aetna Deal: What it could mean for the health care industry

By Erin Reilly

CVS Health’s plan to buy Aetna for $69 billion may reshape the health care industry.

CVS announced the deal on Sunday, claiming the merger would provide people with an “integrated, community-based health care experience.”

“With the analytics of Aetna and CVS Health’s human touch, we will create a health care platform built around individuals,” CVS CEO Larry Merlo said in a press release.

The deal could lead to changes for CVS stores across the country, including this one in North Haven.

Aetna’s CEO and chairman, Mark Bertolini, added, “Together with CVS Health, we will better understand our members’ health goals, guide them through the health care system and help them achieve their best health,” Aetna’s CEO and chairman, Mark Bertolini, added in the press release.

Most outsiders think the deal could come with both pros and cons.

“Effects from the merger may be positive or negative depending on the stakeholders’ perspective,” Jason Scozzafava, a clinical assistant professor of health sciences at Quinnipiac, said. “I believe what is highly likely is that a merger of this scope and scale will influence our health care delivery system.”

Specifically, Scozzafava said the merger could combine many health-related services in one company.

According to its press release, CVS has about 9,700 stores and 1,100 clinics, with 82 percent of Americans living within 10 miles of one of its locations. If CVS adds more locations, Scozzafava says it “would improve geographical access to health care services for many.”

Eight out of 10 Americans are within 10 miles of a CVS https://t.co/x0MQvnPeY1

— Quartz (@qz) December 5, 2017

“This strategy could also help to expedite the expansion of a new care delivery model, one which focuses on patient education, prevention, and management of chronic illness outside of the physician’s office,” Scozzafava said.

This will also affect the insurance side of the deal. Scozzafava said, potentially, it “could offer companies a ‘one-stop shopping’ experience for their employees.”

“People with Aetna insurance could have much of their preventative and disease management health care provided to them within the walls of the retail store,” Scozzafava said.

However, this may not be entirely positive. Scozzafava added that it “could also limit choices as to where one may go for care.”

He also noted that another possible negative effect of the deal could be the distancing between patients and their primary care providers. But Scozzafava feels there is still potential for various positive changes.

“Through the proper utilization of the CVS-Aetna health delivery model, the potential exists to help ease overcrowded emergency departments, improve patient ownership of their health, and decrease the cost of health care in the United States,” Scozzafava said. However, he noted that “a decrease in the cost of health care seems unlikely in our current climate, one that is dominated by private insurance companies.”

All of these possible scenarios rely on the deal actually going through. David Cadden, a Quinnipiac entrepreneurship and strategy professor emeritus, stressed that the merger still needs to be approved by the Department of Justice.

“Prior attempts to merge the largest insurance companies in the country were shot down by (the Department of Justice),” Cadden said.

However, Cadden said this case is different. He said the CVS-Aetna deal would be considered a vertical merger because the two companies are in the same supply chain. The deals that he says were denied were horizontal mergers because they consisted of companies from the same industry.

Cadden said CVS and Aetna “will argue that this merger will lead to significant cost savings, which then could be passed on to the consumer.”

For people with Aetna insurance, the deal may limit where they can fill prescriptions.

“If they can demonstrate this, there is a significant probability that the Department of Justice would approve the merger,” Cadden said.

The question of whether or not the deal will be approved is part of a larger atmosphere of uncertainty within the health care industry, with its future remaining unclear.

“Our U.S. health care system is going through uncertain times,” Scozzafava said. “The political changes in Washington have led to uncertainty with Medicare funding and the (Affordable Care Act).”

Also, there is the threat of new competitors in the health care industry.

“Retail stores like CVS are responding to the threat of e-commerce, more specifically Amazon potentially entering the pharmaceutical distribution business,” Scozzafava said. “Amazon has proven its ability to disrupt longstanding shopping behaviors and CVS may be trying to get ahead of the change.”

The deal with CVS could be the second major Aetna-related change for Connecticut this year. In June, the insurance company announced that it would be moving its headquarters to New York City after being in Hartford for 164 years. Aetna plans to move sometime next year, but about 6,000 employees will remain in Connecticut.

Quinnipiac students among millions of Americans shopping on Cyber Monday

By Erin Reilly

The holiday shopping season is in full swing with millions of people expected to participate in Cyber Monday.

According to the National Retail Federation, 69 percent of Americans – 164 million – planned on shopping during Thanksgiving weekend. About 78 million of those people plan on shopping on Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday has been increasing in popularity in recent years. According to Adobe Analytics, it is expected to have the highest growth in revenue (16.5 percent since 2014) of the five-day major shopping weekend including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Super Sunday and Cyber Monday. It is also predicted to have the highest revenue of the entire weekend with $6.6 billion. The day with the second highest revenue is Black Friday with $5 billion.

Cyber Monday, and the rest of the weekend’s popularity, stems from discounts and traditions. According to the NRF, 66 percent of Americans say they shop during this weekend because of the deals while 26 percent say they shop because they consider it a tradition.

For those who shop because of the deals, Cyber Monday has great discounts on toys. According to Adobe, the average discount for toys will be 19.1 percent. Meanwhile, Black Friday has better discounts on televisions, tablets, jewelry and appliances and Thanksgiving’s best deals are on computers, sporting goods, apparel and video games.

The National Retail Federation's expectations for Thanksgiving weekend shopping show Cyber Monday as the second most popular day. — The National Retail Federation’s expectations for Thanksgiving weekend shopping show Cyber Monday as the second most popular day.

These deals are popular among most Americans, but they can be especially enticing to college students who do not have a lot of money.

“It’s great because I don’t have much money to spend on gifts for my family,” Julia Brown, a Quinnipiac sophomore said. “So, if I couldn’t get these kinds of deals, I wouldn’t be able to get them that much.”

The convenience of online shopping that Cyber Monday offers can also be very appealing.

“Black Friday is way too crazy for me,” Brown said. “The stores are always so nuts and crowded. It’s just so much easier for me to buy things online.”

But Black Friday is not limited to in-store shopping. Many people got their online shopping done on Friday as well.

“I’m not really shopping (on Cyber Monday) because I got all of it done on Friday,” David Rivera, a freshman, said. “I didn’t go to the mall or anything, though. I just did it all online.”

Rivera explained that the deals he sees on Black Friday and Cyber Monday are virtually the same.

“So, in that case, I’d rather just do all of the shopping before I have to come back to school,” Rivera said. “My Mondays are busy, so I don’t have much free time to shop, but I’m sure that won’t stop other students from shopping in class.”

Allegations of sexual assault and harassment have sparked a much-needed discussion

By Erin Reilly

Ever since dozens of women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault six weeks ago, there has been a steady flow of new allegations against the men of Hollywood and beyond. Now, at least 25 high-profile men have been accused.

While the highly publicized allegations have been centered on the entertainment industry, sexual assault and harassment are highly pervasive in our entire society.

“It could be, like, endemic to the culture of Hollywood, and in some ways it is, except that it’s endemic to all cultures,” Jennifer Sacco, the director of Quinnipiac’s Women’s and Gender Studies program, said.

Victims of sexual harassment are not limited to actresses. According to a survey from 2015, 1 in 3 women has been sexually harassed at work.

“Virtually, every adult woman I know has been sexually harassed at work,” Sacco said.

That includes Sacco. She said she was sexually harassed while working at a department store when she was in her 20s.

These actions and comments can have many negative effects on the victims.

“They can cause serious anxiety which prevents us from doing our jobs, from feeling safe, from doing what we need to or want to, and generally from flourishing. And they are normalized,” Melissa Kaplan, a Quinnipiac professor who teaches English and women’s and gender studies, said. “A cat-caller is only scary at all because we don’t know when one might follow us home. And a guy who aggressively pushes for sex wouldn’t make us so queasy if we felt 100 percent sure he’d listen if we said no.”

To raise awareness about these issues, an online movement was started where thousands of women have used “#MeToo” to share their own stories about sexual assault and harassment. On Sunday, Nov. 12, the movement took to the streets of Hollywood for the #MeToo Survivors March. Hundreds of people joined in to show their support.

Hundreds of people have marched in support of the #MeToo campaign https://t.co/kWs4fTkDVu pic.twitter.com/sRS568f0rz

— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 13, 2017

The #MeToo campaign and subsequent widespread discussion about sexual assault and harassment have allowed men to learn more about the issue.

“There are things to like and dislike about this #MeToo campaign, but I appreciate that it seems to be getting at a few basic things that I think are important for men—since they stand to benefit from a rape culture—to understand,” Kaplan said.

The movement has also had an educational effect on women.

“Women are afraid to react because they don’t want to be told they’re overreacting,” Zara Khan, a Quinnipiac senior and president of Women Empowered, said. “I think the ‘Me Too’ movement is a great way to educate others on what is considered sexual harassment by being able to read these raw personal stories.”

The allegations themselves against men like Harvey Weinstein have also had a positive impact.

“I do like the fact that so many women came forward so quickly and included really prominent women” Sacco said. “I think that was helpful. I really do.”

However, the movement has not been all positive. In some ways, it has highlighted some deeper issues.

“I think it’s great that women are joining forces to support each other. However, it’s saddening how many women had to come forward in order for there to be consequences,” Khan said. “It shouldn’t be her word against his. We need to take these women seriously as soon as they come forward instead of sweeping this under the rug.”

Victims are often not believed and when they are, the focus is sometimes entirely on them.

“One of the more valid critiques of the #MeToo trend is that it is focused, as these conversations so often are, on the survivors, rather than the perpetrators and enablers; that it asks women to bear their pain instead of asking men for reflection and accountability,” Kaplan said.

Sacco also noted that this may be a flaw in the movement.

“Why do we ask more of the victims? You know, why do they have to bear themselves again in some way in public for people to take this seriously?” Sacco said.

The tendency to focus on the victims rather than the perpetrators is one of the many underlying issues of sexual assault and harassment.

“I think the biggest issue behind sexual assault (and) harassment is that the victim is often blamed,” Khan said. “That she shouldn’t have worn that skirt or shouldn’t have drank so much. That a woman should change the way she dresses and behaves because then she is ‘asking for it.’”

Kaplan says that gendered violence is a problem that stems from “systemic sexism.” This leads to women being silenced and bystanders not speaking up about the abuse they know is happening.

“Women are taught to obscure the signs of our abuse, and our communities are taught to pretend they don’t know what’s really going on. Lie about our bruises. Claim we missed work because we had a cold. That we did poorly on an exam because we didn’t study,” Kaplan said. “Whether by pressuring women not to speak up in the first place or dismissing them when they do, the system insists that reports of gendered violence remain private rumor rather than public record.”

In order to combat this system, the #MeToo movement may be a good first step.

“Everyone needs to make this as vocal as possible because, collectively, maybe we could enforce some sort of change here,” Sacco said.

The key is that this movement is finally acknowledging the problem.

“Making radical change means acknowledging and confronting the injustices around us,” Kaplan said. “If we don’t acknowledge that something is a problem, we cannot transform it.”

Understanding Hamden’s paving program

Photo by Katherine Koretski.

By Erin Reilly

Hamden will be getting a facelift this fall with the repaving of all or part of 56 roads.

“Investing in our road infrastructure helps build value in our neighborhoods, shows our residents that we care about the quality and appearance of our road system and reduces expenses from the liability presented by a damaged road,” Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng said.

According to Leng, the paving will cover a total of about 11.5 miles. By the end of 2017, about 76.5 miles will have been paved in the past six years, which is about 31 percent of Hamden’s 240 miles of roads. Paving cost for the year will have a total of about $2 million.

Leng says the decision to pave these specific roads was determined by multiple factors, including pavement condition, amount of traffic and proximity to places like schools and parks.

“We prioritize which streets to pave using data,” Leng said. “All of Hamden’s roads are evaluated by an independent company and given a pavement condition index rating.”

The more damaged roads are, the lower their ratings. With lower ratings, these roads are more likely to be repaved.

Map by Katherine Koretski.

The map shows all the roads set to be repaved this fall.

Bonnie Smith lives on one of the streets that will soon be paved and is looking forward to the improvements.

“The road has been pretty damaged for quite some time now so I’m glad it’s finally going to get fixed,” Smith said. “My car is very low to the ground so even though I always drive very slow I am always worried the potholes might damage it.”

While she is relieved that her road will be repaired, Smith is concerned about the timing of the repaving.

“Part of me thinks that they’re going to do all this work to fix these roads, but come winter they’ll all get potholes again,” Smith said. “I just wish they had fixed them earlier in the year so we could enjoy it longer.”

Smith also said that the parking ban for her road will be an “inconvenient hassle.” She says her driveway is not big enough for all of her family’s cars so she will have to find somewhere else to park and then walk the rest of the way to her house.

“I just hope it doesn’t rain those days,” Smith said.

Parking bans will be in effect for all of the streets that are being paved. Signs will be posted to inform residents of the ban at least 24 hours before paving starts. Cars will not be allowed to park on the street until the work is done.

The fall paving program will continue until Nov. 1. A complete list of the roads that will be paved can be found on Hamden’s website. The list does not include state routes that run through Hamden, including Whitney Avenue, that are being paved by the state.