Tag Archives: mental health

Coping with a (COVID-induced) Mental Health Crisis

Coping with a (COVID-induced) Mental Health Crisis

It was in June 2020, three months into the lockdown in Victoria, and the longest winter I have ever seen. I realised my days consisted of either crying for hours, or just staring vacantly. I am struggling to get anything done and the only thing that I feel like doing is cleaning the entire house. […] … learn more→

Are universities encouraging students to believe hard study is bad for their mental health?

Are universities encouraging students to believe hard study is bad for their mental health?

In September 2019, The Guardian headlined an article “‘The way universities are run is making us ill’: inside the student mental health crisis”. We hear similar talk on all sides. Couched in the alarming vocabulary of “crisis” and “epidemic”, data presented at conferences, at staff training sessions and in the media create a sense of panic. Politicians have also […] … learn more→

From recognition to transformation: How digital technology can reduce mental illness stigma

From recognition to transformation: How digital technology can reduce mental illness stigma

When those with mental illness experience prejudice and discrimination in the form of stigma, it can make their suffering considerably worse. Spreading awareness and understanding through education is one of the strategies used to tackle the problem. Years of public education campaigns have helped open the conversation. Yet evidence suggests that stigma against people with […] … learn more→

From 9/11 to Christchurch earthquakes: how unis have supported students after a crisis

From 9/11 to Christchurch earthquakes: how unis have supported students after a crisis

Universities across Australia – including in Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle – have had to close their campuses in the past few months as a result of bushfires. But the deep and long-lasting impacts of the crisis are set to pose a challenge for Australian universities beyond just the immediate response. Of the more than one million university students in Australia, we estimate about 95,000 […] … learn more→

Virtual reality may be the next frontier in remote mental health care

Virtual reality may be the next frontier in remote mental health care

In recent years, experts have focused on finding better ways to improve remotely delivered mental health care. Now, virtual reality (VR) may pave the way for myriad new opportunities. Using VR for remote therapy involves conducting “face-to-face” sessions in a virtual environment. This mode of treatment could make counselling more accessible to those living and […] … learn more→

The mental health crisis on campus and how colleges can fix it

The mental health crisis on campus and how colleges can fix it

When college students seek help for a mental health issue on campus – something they are doing more often – the place they usually go is the college counseling center. But while the stigma of seeking mental health support has gone down, it has created a new problem: College counseling centers are now struggling to meet the increased demand. As […] … learn more→

Is poor mental health hurting our economy?

Across America, millions of people struggle with issues such as anxiety and depression. Not only do these mental health disorders affect the productivity and quality of life of those who suffer from them, but they also have an impact on the success of our society. Mental health issues are draining the economy in more ways […] … learn more→

University student mental health care is at the tipping point

University student mental health care is at the tipping point

As a new crop of students enter university, the sense of hope and promise is tangible. While students are at an exciting developmental stage, as a researcher and practising clinical consultant to university student health services, I know that for some students the associated stress and new pressures will become overwhelming. Several authoritative reports from Canada and […] … learn more→

Are you mentally well enough for college?

Are you mentally well enough for college?

Last spring an 18-year-old college freshman who got straight A’s in high school – but was now failing several courses – came to my office on the campus where I work as a psychologist. The student was seeking a medical exception so that he could withdraw from the classes he failed instead of taking the F’s and […] … learn more→

6 ways to protect your mental health from social media’s dangers

6 ways to protect your mental health from social media’s dangers

More than one-third of American adults view social media as harmful to their mental health, according to a new survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Just 5% view social media as being positive for their mental health, the survey found. Another 45% say it has both positive and negative effects. Two-thirds of the survey’s respondents believe […] … learn more→