Bucknell is a beautiful school with even more beautiful students. The beauty, however, is tainted by uneasiness stemmed from the pressure to live up to a set of standards some students dedicate themselves to. Eating disorders are a type of serious mental illness, and the symptoms worsen when students fall victim to high pressures such as stress, judgment and social conformity.
Eating disorders are incredibly prevalent. The increased pressure and stress of school away from home may lead to mental health problems. Full-blown eating disorders typically begin between 18 and 21 years of age (National Eating Disorder Association). An untreated student with an eating disorder is at extreme risk for cardiac damage/heart failure, osteoporosis, muscle loss, severe dehydration, fatigue, hair loss, pancreatitis, tooth decay and more. The progression of an eating disorder is detrimental, but can be prevented with help from Bucknell Student Health Services.
According to the Active Minds Organization, a student group on campus dedicated to promoting mental health education and advocacy, someone may be experiencing significant emotional distress if they display the following traits:
- Noticeable change in personality
- Frequent crying
- Dramatic weight loss/ gain
- Alcohol and/or other drug abuse
- Deterioration in hygiene
- References to suicide
- Poor academic effort
- Dependent, attention seeking behavior
- Compulsive behaviors
- Aggression, vandalism
- Lethargic appearance
- Promiscuous sexual behavior
- Self-injurious behavior (e.g., cutting, burning)
Bucknell Student Health Services advocates suggest that if you or one of your friends displays any of these characteristics, you may want to seek help. Bucknell offers free online mental health screenings for students through Screening for Mental Health, Inc. This free service is confidential and can identify symptoms for bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety and more. Bucknell Psychological Services provides individual or group services catered to the individual student’s needs.
I THINK MY FRIEND MAY BE SUFFERING FROM AN EATING DISORDER…WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you believe a student may benefit from treatment or by simply talking to a professional counselor, there are several ways for you to help him/her:
- Ask how he/she is feeling and politely suggest your concerns
- Do NOT belittle their situation, an eating disorder is a mental illness that is challenging to cope with or overcome
- Suggest taking a look at the Psychological Services webpage
- Remind your friend that conversations with counselors are confidential and free
- You may offer to accompany the student to the first appointment
- Remind your friend that he or she can reach an on-call counselor at any time of day by dialing 570-577-1604 (x71604)
Whether it’s self help or encouraging a friend to utilize Bucknell’s services, identifying the issue is the most crucial part of recovering from an eating disorder.