Easing the Burden
Mental health of college students probed at Wake Forest
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE -
Nearly one year after a crazed gunman perpetrated the deadliest
shooting in modern history at Virginia Tech, college officials are
working hard to address issues of mental health on their campuses.
To, this end. Wake Forest University hosted a special forum
titled ."College for the Overwhelmed: Finding Facts, Finding
Solutions" in its Brendle Recital Hall Monday afternoon
"College is supposed to be a carefree time, a place where stu
dents are free to explore the universe of knowledge as well as them
selves," commented WFU President Nathan Hatch. "For the major
Hatch
ity of students, this is their expe
rience and they thrive as they
challenge themselves and reflect
and discover new information
about the world and who they are
as persons. However, for a sig
nificant number of students, col
lege becomes more than an intel
lectual challenge ... In short,
they're distraught, distressed and
at times, overwhelmed."
JQr. Richard Kadison, author
of "College of the Overwhelmed:
The Campus Mental Health
Crisis and What to Do about It,"
served as ke^n&i speaker.
"The biggest challenge that
we face is reducing stigma," he
said. "We also need to integrate cultural sensitivity and cultural
competence in our work. Learning where students come from ...
and being real in trying to make connections can be extremely help
ful."
The "College of the Overwhelmed" forum was part of the insti
tution's Voices of Our Time series. An annual speaker series that
features some of the world's top thinkers. Voices of Our Time was
founded by Hatch in 2006.
In his remarks. Kadison. who is chief of Mental Health Services
at Harvard University, outlined the causes and warning signs of
mental health issues in college students. He advised parents and
faculty members on how to best help students who may be strug
gling with depression, an eating disorder or other mental health
issues.
"Everyone is responsible for the well being of students,"
Kadison asserted. "We all need to work together to create a safe,
engaged community."
, Kadison urged those present to take an active role in bolstering
the mental health of students campus wide.
"1 think it's important for students to have multiple ways to
access care," he said. "Find the path of least resistance and help stu
dents access care that way ... Beg, borrow or steal any good idea
any idea, you can get from anyone - there are lots of great ideas on
campuses all across the country."
After his remarks. Kadison joined Dr. Russ Federman, director
of Counseling and Psychological Service^ at the University of
Virginia; and Christopher Flynn, Ph.D., director of Virginia Tech's
Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center, in a panel discussion about
mental illness on college campuses nationwide.
NAACP
from page A2 ? ?
families and recent immi
grants.
Mclntire said several
board members made it plain
at a February meeting that
they wanted the search com
mittee to consider "elevating
from within."
He did not comment on the
possibility of Rev. Rivers'
candidacy. He said 200 appli
cants expressed interest in the
job. The field was narrowed to
75, then to 25.
Despite Khalfani's doubts
about the finalists, he said
he's optimistic that the search
may be re-opened in the face
of a backlash from the organi
zation's rank and file.
Khalfani said Rev. Rivers
would be "an excellent
leader" because of his knowl
edge, history and advocacy
within the organization and
because he is well known and
respected by people across the
country:
Salim Khalfani
Three Virginians serve on
the nationai organization's
board. They are attorney
James E. Ghee of Farmville,
Rovenia Vaughan of
Powhatan and Babette
Colquitt of Alexandria.
Ghee and Julian Bond,
chairman of the national
board, did not immediately
return phone calls seeking
comment.
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Dr. Christopher Flynn addresses the crowd.
Flynn was employed at Loyola University when Hurricane
Katrina struck and directed the mental health response to the
Virginia Tech shooting last year. He spoke briefly about the tragedy
and about Cho Seung-Hui, the gunman who opened fire on more
than 30 people on April 16, 2007, before turning the gun on himself.
"Certainly, Virginia Tech is a very powerful example about what
can happen in American education," Flynn said. "In the aftermath
of the shooting, I think colleges and universities have really looked
at establishing a much mpre fail safe network to ensure that all stu
dents get the assistance they need.
"I think what that has pointed out is that we really do need to
connect with every student," he added. "It's a tragedy because I
think every mental health professional that I know would have done
anything to connect with that student and to help him deal with
whatever he was dealing with internally."
Series designed to
dispel HIV myths
Workshops start
tomorrow and
end Sunday
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Metropolitan
Community Church of
Winston-Salem, in partner
ship with The Mental Health
Association in Forsyth
County, Positive Wellness
Alliance, AIDS Care Service
and the Q Lounge will present
"On the Edge/Strength,
Renewal Hope" workshops
starting tomorrow (April 11).
The series of weekend
workshops will feature Joshua
Love, a Denver resident and
Metropolitan Community
Church's program director for
the Global HIV/AIDS
Ministry and the church's
Drug Literacy Program.
The purpose for these
weekend workshops is to
bring dialogue, education and
greater awareness about the
myths and misperceptions of
HIV/AIDS.
Love is an advocate for all
persons who are struggling
with HIV/AIDS that co-occur
with substance use disorders,
he is a survivor of drug addic
tion, alcoholism and HIV who
brings his experiences to the
development of community
dialogues. The workshops are
free of charge and interested
participants can register for
one or all scheduled work
shops.
Tomorrow, a workshop
? ii
Joshua Love
will take place from 11a.m. -
2 p.m. at the Wake Forest
University Divinity School,
Wingate Hall-Lower. The
workshop is free, but there is
a $5 charge for the lunch buf
fet.
On Saturday, April 12, a
workshop will take place from
9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the
Metropolitan Community
Church of Winston-Salem.
4105 Patsy Drive. This work
shop is free and a brunch is
-- provided.
On Sunday, April 13, the
workshop weekend will con
clude with preaching by Love
at the Metropolitan
Community Church of
Winston-Salem, during the 11
a.m. and 6 p.m. services.
For more information,
contact the Rev. Joe Cobb,
pastor of the Metropolitan
Community Church of
Winston-Salem, at 540-556
6057 or by e-mail: pas
tor2mccws@yahoo.com, or
contact Randy Burchette at
336-688-671 1 or by e-mail:
rburchette@earthlink.net.
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PERSONALIZED TREATMENT
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PROSTATE CANCER. It's a leading cause of cancer death in men, but how you
Not all prostate cancer should be treated the same, and the test treatment
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Wake Forest Baptist has one of the few National Cancer Institute-designated
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An accurate diagnosis, access to the newest treatments and the right
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are treated can impact how well you do.
For an appointment or more information call 336-716-4131 or visit
wfubmc.edu/prostatecancer. And whatever your insurance, chances
are we take it.
KNOWLEDGE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Stated: Drs. Daniel B. Fried, Ashok K. Hemal, Frank M. Torti.
Standing: Drs. Mebea Akliiu, Karim Kader, Joseph A. Pettus.
1 Slfice 1993, Wake Forest University Baptrst Medical Center has been consistently
[ ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S.News & World Report.
D
Wake Forest-University Baptist
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Wake Forest University Physicians