Whether you're a freshman struggling to get used to campus life, a senior stressing about what lies beyond graduation, or anywhere in between, college can (without a doubt) be one of the most stressful times for students. A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that 61% of students across the nation seeking counseling report anxiety, with depression (49%) and stress (45%) following closely behind. Although these issues can affect anyone regardless of race, class, gender, or sexuality, it often times weighs very heavily on students who are homeless or precariously housed.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that anywhere from 20% to 25% of the homeless population in the US live with some form of severe mental illness (compared to just 6% of the overall American population). Harvard notes that "mental illness is often cited as a major cause of homelessness, illustrating a causative relationship that extends beyond mere correlation;" NIMH also reports that in 12% of cities, mental illness was listed as one of the top 3 causes for family homelessness. On top of that, homelessness has its own set of challenges that can be severely detrimental to an individual's mental health. And yet, the population that seems to be most heavily affected by mental illness is also one that struggles heavily with access to appropriate care.
For homeless or precariously-housed students, seeking out mental health care can seem daunting if not downright impossible. Finances can be a huge road block -- especially for those who are uninsured -- as well as other pieces that one might not consider, such as trying to make time for appointments between classes and work, or lack of access to transportation. This can lead to students trying to ignore mental health stresses or work through them privately, ultimately causing more stress than they began with.
Although these are considerable obstacles, there's still hope for homeless students who want or need to seek out mental health services. At Wayne State, the campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) seeks to provide a community where "no mental health need goes unmet and all students reach their highest personal and academic potential." CAPS provides accessible, confidential, and FREE services to all registered Wayne State students. These range from individual counseling sessions and mental health screenings to support groups and workshops, as well as crisis services for emergencies.
CAPS is located in Room 522 of the student center, and is open from Monday - Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with initial intake appointments until 4:00 pm daily and can be reached by phone at (313) 577-3398.
Although these services are provided at no cost to students, mental health crises don't always happen in a timely manner (just like any other emergency). Some other important numbers and sites can be found here -- having access to these in times of crisis might be the difference between life and death for someone.
It can be difficult to take that first step to getting care for your mental health. Even though our society is constantly growing and progressing, many people still hold onto the stigmas of seeking out care for mental health issues even when it negatively affects their own well-being. There should be no shame in seeking out help, homeless or otherwise; after all, it's no different than seeking out care for a physical illness. Taking care of yourself is a beautiful thing, and nothing to be ashamed of.
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." -- Aristotle Onassis
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) found that anywhere from 20% to 25% of the homeless population in the US live with some form of severe mental illness (compared to just 6% of the overall American population). Harvard notes that "mental illness is often cited as a major cause of homelessness, illustrating a causative relationship that extends beyond mere correlation;" NIMH also reports that in 12% of cities, mental illness was listed as one of the top 3 causes for family homelessness. On top of that, homelessness has its own set of challenges that can be severely detrimental to an individual's mental health. And yet, the population that seems to be most heavily affected by mental illness is also one that struggles heavily with access to appropriate care.
For homeless or precariously-housed students, seeking out mental health care can seem daunting if not downright impossible. Finances can be a huge road block -- especially for those who are uninsured -- as well as other pieces that one might not consider, such as trying to make time for appointments between classes and work, or lack of access to transportation. This can lead to students trying to ignore mental health stresses or work through them privately, ultimately causing more stress than they began with.
Although these are considerable obstacles, there's still hope for homeless students who want or need to seek out mental health services. At Wayne State, the campus Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) seeks to provide a community where "no mental health need goes unmet and all students reach their highest personal and academic potential." CAPS provides accessible, confidential, and FREE services to all registered Wayne State students. These range from individual counseling sessions and mental health screenings to support groups and workshops, as well as crisis services for emergencies.
CAPS is located in Room 522 of the student center, and is open from Monday - Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm with initial intake appointments until 4:00 pm daily and can be reached by phone at (313) 577-3398.
Although these services are provided at no cost to students, mental health crises don't always happen in a timely manner (just like any other emergency). Some other important numbers and sites can be found here -- having access to these in times of crisis might be the difference between life and death for someone.
It can be difficult to take that first step to getting care for your mental health. Even though our society is constantly growing and progressing, many people still hold onto the stigmas of seeking out care for mental health issues even when it negatively affects their own well-being. There should be no shame in seeking out help, homeless or otherwise; after all, it's no different than seeking out care for a physical illness. Taking care of yourself is a beautiful thing, and nothing to be ashamed of.
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." -- Aristotle Onassis
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