How SUNY New Paltz Can Tackle the Mental Health Crisis

  1. Introduction to Research Topic

I chose to write about the issue of mental health amongst students at SUNY New Paltz. Specifically, I believe that the school should be taking greater steps to prioritize mental health and support students who are struggling. While I am currently undeclared, I am enrolled in a psychology course and have considered declaring it as my major. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to empathize with people and understand human emotions. I am also a very sensitive person – I care deeply about the well-being of others.

I am passionate about mental health for various reasons. Throughout my life, I have dealt with severe anxiety and mild paranoia. I also put an inordinate amount of pressure on myself, which results in constant disappointment and feelings of failure. There are days when it feels as though my circumstances will never improve. Although I have an amazing support system of friends and family, many are not as fortunate. It pains me to know that there are people who suffer in silence. I would like nothing more than to help those who are feeling hopeless because I often feel the same way.

  1. Leading Research Question and Related Questions

My leading research question is: “What are some measures that SUNY New Paltz could take to emphasize the mental health of its students?” One option is to hold information sessions on mental health during orientation and throughout the year. One additional question is: “Why should SUNY New Paltz place greater emphasis on mental health?” Another question is: “What actions have other schools taken to assess students’ mental health and provide adequate resources?”

  1. Current Knowledge

Mental health is an all-encompassing concept that involves one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. It affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives, which is why mental health problems are so debilitating. Several members of my family have struggled with mental health illnesses, ranging from anxiety or ADHD to depression. One of the most common symptoms that I have experienced is fatigue. I often lack energy and motivation for seemingly no reason. I also find myself feeling overwhelmingly sad over everything, even minor inconveniences. When I was young, most of my knowledge about mental health came from the media. However, over time, I learned that people with these issues are frequently stigmatized and misrepresented by the media.

  1. Interview Subject(s)

For this project, I have decided to interview my cousin, Maddie. Maddie has endured various mental health troubles throughout her life, something I discovered fairly recently. During her senior year of college, she admitted herself to a hospital on two occasions for depression. Maddie is somewhat candid about her mental health, which makes her a prime candidate for my interview. I know that she will be willing to help, and I will try to avoid overstepping boundaries when creating the interview questions. I have also considered asking my psychology professor, Dr. Ashley Wood, for an interview. As someone who is knowledgeable about mental health and has taught my target demographic, I would love to hear her thoughts on the subject. 

  1. Preliminary Internet Sources

My first source is an article from a scholarly journal called Academic Psychiatry. The article was written by Paola Pedrelli, Maren Nyer, Albert Yeung, Courtney Zulauf, and Timothy Wilens. I found the article in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. My second source is a page from the New Paltz Hawks athletic website. The post was created on February 4 and does not list an author. It announced that SUNY New Paltz is partnering with a mental health and wellness app for student athletes. While the app only applies to student athletes, I believe that it is a step in the right direction.

 

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