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Medical and
Mental Health
Support Issues
(Click on headings)
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Medical
Support
Mental Health
THE INTERNET
COLLEGE CALL CHECKLIST
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Medical
Support
An
incomplete list of medical conditions covered by these discussions are: autism,
arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, cystic fibrosis, diabetes,
fibromyalgia, heart disease, hemophilia, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, multiple
chemical sensitivities, seizure disorders, traumatic brain injury, and Tourette
syndrome. By this list you can see that there are college students struggling
and succeeding in spite of a wide range of chronic and life-threatening issues.
If
due to your medical condition you are required to spend extensive time at the
hospital or at home recovering, make sure that you take advantage of all
available programs through your school district or college and the hospital
tutoring/teaching programs. Ask for help. There are people out there willing to
help you succeed. Ask for help when you need it. Join a support group. Attend a
summer camp if you can – if for no other reason to give yourself a needed
break.
If
you are on a specialized diet, and/or meal timing, etc. check with Residential
Life offices and Meal Services Offices at your top college choices and get
detailed information and available meal plans to fit your medical needs. Check
into what you have to do to put these in place and ask how easily it is to
modify them.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Mental Health
There
is a significant prejudice against asking for and following through with
treatment. Society is intentionally ignorant. Mental health issues are
just as valid as the others covered in this book. 51 million
Americans suffer from some form of these issues. Mental illness affects approximately 20% of our adolescent population (18-24).
These disabilities need to be addressed. They are very often invisible diseases
but that doesn’t make the issues any less invasive into a student’s life and
productivity. It takes planning and cooperation on the part of the school and
student to be successful in overcoming or compensating for these diseases.
Depression
can interfere with completing college (perhaps as much as 50%) and post-graduate
education. This disability can interferes with job placement and future earnings
as it can interfere with forming and maintaining intimate relationships.
Depression can contribute to drug and alcohol abuse. Over 40% of depression
cases start before the age of 22.
Suicide
is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people (18-24) in
America and all threats must be taken as serious.
Suicide
Warning Signs:
Recent death of a family member or friend
Breakup of a family such as through divorce
Breakup of a romantic relationship
Problems in school
Violent behavior or episodes
Mood swings
Risk-taking behavior
Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
Inordinate periods of isolation
Drug or alcohol abuse
Significant changes in eating habits
Significant changes in sleeping habits
Sudden flood of energy following depressive
state
Making final arrangements
Giving away possessions
No sign of personal joy or happiness
Talking, writing about death or suicide
Access to a firearm
Treat all
threats as serious.
THE
INTERNET
AIDS
Action Council
www.aidsaction.org
American
College Health Association
www.acha.org
American
Heart Association
American
Lung Association
Asthma
Autism
Society of America
www.autism-society.org
Center
for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation
Depression
Screening
(National
Mental Health Association)
www.depression-screening.org
Diabetes
Dream
Factory
Epilepsy
Foundation of America
www.efa.org
Life
Crisis Services
(314)647-HELP
Make-A-Wish
Foundation
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill
www.nami.org
National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National
Mental Health Association
www.nmha.org
National
Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
www.rarediseases.org
St.
Jude’s Hospital
Tourette
Syndrome Association
www.tsa.mgh.harvard.edu
All
major Internet gateways have sites.
COLLEGE
CALL CHECKLIST
MEDICAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT ISSUES:
If
there are heart, asthma or lung-function problems, what services are available
on campus for emergency care?
When
are medical support staff available on campus?
24/7?
9-5 Monday through Friday?
Is
there a nurse available to administer medication?
Is
secure refrigeration for my medications?
Is
there a way to arrange your classes around medication and/or treatment
schedules?
If
walking long distances are issues, can you use special parking places close to
your academic and dorm buildings?
If
rest during the day is prescribed or required, is there someplace for you to lie
down without having to return all the way to your dorm?
How
long does it take to get into the Student Health Center for a non-life
threatening illness ?
Do they accept walk-ins?
Or appointment only?
Are
there specially trained personnel available in the dorms to assist in medical
situations when the health center is closed?
How
far is the closest hospital with a full-service emergency room?
What
are the services offered to a student with chronic or serious health problems on
campus?
What
are the policies about attendance, official extensions and support for a student
who becomes ill or suffers from a life-threatening illness?
If
a student becomes or is suffering from a serious illness, does the college allow
fewer credit hours and still be considered a full time student in good standing?
If
a student needs to take an extended leave due to illnesses, how long is allowed
before the student is dropped from the university?
What
types of services are offered in support of the recovery of a mental illness?
What
is the level of psychological professional counseling and/or psychiatric care
available:
On campus?
Off-campus for students?
What
are the support groups available?
Is
there a suicide hotline available on campus or in the town/city?
What
is the campus’s policy regarding notifying parents/guardians concerning
serious mental illness or suicide threats?
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