So, what is SSN anyway? Well, SSN stands for Student Support Network. Many colleges and universities all over the country offer this program. Essentially, it’s a 6 week training program that educates participants about things that are generally not talked about. Among an array of topics, I learned how to truly empathize with others, drugs and alcohol, suicide, and have gained a better understanding on what having a mental illness means. Here are 5 things I learned from SSN, that I think the general population should think about:
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One’s mental illness does NOT define someone.
This point was enforced day one of training. Just because someone struggles with depression, anxiety, self harm, eating disorders, etc, does not mean that they are any less of a person. Their illness is NOT who they are. It’s something they have ownership of. Associating someone with an illness rather than who they really are as a person is not only degrading that person, but also anyone else who suffers from that mental illness.
2) It’s OKAY to seek help!
Although we’re told to “tough it out” through hard times, getting help is not a sign a weakness. I have the utmost respect for people who seek help when they are in need. It’s challenging to ask for help because that means admitting that you have a problem. And admitting that you’re not perfect isn’t as easy as it seems. If you’re struggling to get out of your bed every morning, tempted to starve yourself, contemplating taking your life, or just having a bad day, please talk to someone! Like one of my peers during SSN training said, “If you would want to know if your friend was struggling, your friend would want the same thing. You owe it to your friend and to yourself to reach out and ask for help.” Also, the Bergeron Wellness Center has a wonderful certified staff that can always provide a confidential ear!
3) Silence is Golden.
There were many times through SSN training that would get almost uncomfortably quiet. But I learned that silence is OKAY. When listening to someone, you should try your best to get on their level. Really put yourself in their shoes and know that simply being there to listen is sometimes the best thing to do. You don’t need to solve their problems. Sometimes, people just need someone to listen. When listening to someone talk about their struggles, understand that it may not be easy for them. Hear them out and if their problem seems serious, refer them to someone else who is capable of handling it.
4) No one experiences the same mental illness the same way..
In terms of depression, people with depression will experience depression differently than other people who struggle with depression. There is no absolute way to help someone who is struggling, even if they are diagnosed with the same mental illness. I really struggled with this concept. It’s mind boggling that what you think will help someone (because it’s helped someone else you know in the past) may not work on someone else even if they are diagnosed with the same thing. Circumstance, personality, and the mood of the person at the time all affect how they will react to what you think will help them.
5) Mental Health is different than Mental Illness.
Just like how your body experiences states of health and illness, so does your mind. I find we talk a lot about mental health, however, only focus on illness. Mental health encompasses everything from the highs and the lows of life! It’s important to celebrate when we’re feeling good about ourselves, or are having a little bit better of a day than usual. Just like how we celebrate when we are physically fit and healthy, we should celebrate self awareness and positivity! Mental illness is equally as important as mental health. However, before SSN, I had always associated mental health with mental illness, which I think a lot of people wrongfully associate.
In the end, we owe it to ourselves to be mentally healthy. This starts with erasing the stigma of seeing therapists or taking medications to be mentally healthy. After all, there is no stigma when people see doctors to fix their bronchitis or broken leg! Therefore, we shouldn’t look down on people who are trying to get better by seeing a therapist. I learned from SSN that everyone deserves a chance to be listened to. To make people more willing to open up, we need to change our attitude toward mental health and be courageous enough to talk about it.
If anyone ever needs someone to talk to, here are the names of the wonderful participants of Saint Michael’s Spring 2016 SSN students:
Emily Kopacz, Leah Seften, Daniel Divis, Nicholas Ferrigno, Jillian Kahn, Maggie McKeon, Sydney Moran, Sabrina Quimby, Peyton Rockcliffe