This is a machine transcription and is subject to error. Apologizes in advance. 

Hi, good afternoon my name is Pat's and I'm an intern at the Health and Wellness department at Stonehill College and
0:05
today I'm gonna be interviewing Jessica Green, the wellness coordinator on her experiences with mental health
0:10
counseling in college. I have a couple questions for you Jess
0:15
first. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about your yourself as a college student. You know some of your
0:20
you know your interests activities that you participate. Maybe what you studied in your little
0:26
bit about your personality. Sure. I'm actually from Rhode Island. I went to our state school
0:31
University of Rhode Island. You know as a Rhode Islander it actually was never big deal to get into URI
0:36
but now looking back I realize just how lucky I was to get my undergraduate education there.
0:41
I've always had a very strong work ethic which I get from my parents. I actually worked multiple jobs
0:47
growing up and throughout college so I was always very busy. I never actually had time to
0:53
worry about things. I was always commuting to school. I actually worked for
0:58
the first three years and didn't really get a full experience living on campus.
1:03
I would actually wake up at five in the morning drive to campus. I worked at a local coffee shop.
1:08
so I get there for six working till about ten then head to class and then
1:13
when I got three I'd go babysit and then go home. You know around six o'clock
1:18
eat dinner do some more school work and do it all again the next day. My weekends were usually
1:23
spent either reading or spending time with family and friends. I also lived
1:28
near the water in Rhode Island, so we did a lot of sailing and kayaking. We
1:34
also live there some bike trails I always loved being outside things like going running or
1:39
anything outside I love to do. I think that really help me manage my stress actually being so active
1:45
and and being outside. I also had a lot of responsibilities. I didn't really have a lot of time to worry about
1:50
things. I also felt part of my personality was that I was in control of my
1:55
own actions and if there was a problem I didn't really blame others I always thought well
2:00
you know what can I do to fix it, so I think that helps when I was worried or anxious
2:05
and growing up I never really did things that other students did I never really drink
2:11
or use substances. I think that helps a lot too just to have a clear mind. I was
2:16
always a pretty happy person but I did sometimes have a tendency to worry
2:21
about things are over think them and sometimes that definitely let us the feelings of anxiety.
2:26
Yeah I think that's I think that's something that a lot of students are familiar with then you know I don't think that
2:32
a lot of people necessarily see it as this and need to seek counseling but we're gonna get
2:37
a little bit into some of the barriers that maybe you've experienced and so with hoping to
2:42
present you some gonna assume that you're a lot like many students are here are at Stonehill and and
2:48
I was just wondering have you had any exposure to mental health counseling before you could come to
2:53
Stonehill? so I had a little bit experience. My parents actually got divorced and I was in middle
2:58
school and my mom had actually asked both my brother and I do go just to make sure that we were handling
3:03
everything okay after our family split. I remember I was so young but
3:08
I was always very emotional so those counseling sessions I cried a lot and
3:13
it really helped us to talk about how I was feelings. The counselor was great. She actually gave me
3:18
some tips on how to journal to get my thoughts and feelings out and that's actually something
3:23
I've continued to do this day when I'm worried or if I you know I have something I'm thinking about.
3:28
Or that's concerning me, I fine journaling are really helpful thing to do. Yeah that's something
3:34
that I find that a lot of people you know help with him so I think that that's definitely a great
3:39
you know type of intervention that you experienced. Also I was wondering you know in in regards to that
3:44
experience to do think that that exposure that you had in middle school affected your future
3:49
decision to seek help for you for your future likelihood to seek out? Absolutely
3:55
I think just having that prior experience led me to know that there are other options when I'm
4:00
worried about something I think sometimes you feel like you're alone you
4:05
have no one to talk to you. I have actually come from a very close tight knit family so I've talked to my mom
4:10
about things but sometimes things are just really personal and I just didn't wanna share with her didn't feel
4:15
like I'd you know be able to share with her without some judgment so I thought
4:21
knowing that there was a counselor there or that I can always the counseling was always an option. in fact when
4:26
I was a junior in college, I had a really close family member mine of struggle with substance abuse.
4:31
It was actually really difficult and made being around that person very hard
4:36
and really struggled with our family dynamics. I remember feeling really sad and angry and I
4:42
just wanted him to change and I couldn't understand why he would do that to us and I decided to seek counseling
4:47
because I just felt I was stuck. I had all this anger and frustration and I felt like
4:52
I didn't want to feel that way anymore and I didn't want to lash out at him and I didn't want to talk about
4:58
those things with my mom because I knew she had her own feelings on the issue so when
5:03
I went to the counselor it was actually a really nice nonjudgmental place that I can talk about how it
5:08
was feeling. Yeah that's that's that's an experience with a lot of people have so I'm
5:13
glad you know you did have a positive experience a lot of people unfortunately though don't ever
5:18
you know have that experience because they choose not to seek help for a number of reasons and
5:23
I was just wanted to get into a little bit of both those very specifically that you faced. Did
5:29
you feel any specific barriers when you were in college the second time around when you decided to seek help
5:34
You know what's funny when no one ever really talked about counseling when I was growing up. It
5:39
was never really talked about my family and my friends never really talked about it. I think that we're
5:44
a lot more aware of mental health nowadays than we were before and I actually wish that people
5:49
talked about it. the only other time that I had heard someone seeking counseling when I was growing up with a close
5:54
friend of mine. She was one of my best friends growing up since we were in elementary school
5:59
and I remember in high school and college she really struggled with depression and anxiety.
6:05
She saw counselor on a regular basis and was on medication and I remember her saying one time
6:10
to me that she needed that counselor and she need that medication in order to feel normal
6:16
and I remember thinking wow that's gotta be you know such a challenge you know feeling that
6:21
way all the time and and thank God that there's this great resource out there. but basically the
6:26
only other time I had know anyone going to counseling was myself. You know my parents were divorced so
6:31
back in the day I thought oh you only go to counseling when there's this big issue and
6:36
so later on when I was in graduate school actually I was in a not so great relationships
6:41
and I remember being hesitant about seeking counseling because I thought you know it's not so bad
6:47
things aren't that terrible and you know was it even worth going to talk
6:53
to someone and I member kind of mulling that over and thinking well you know I don't have
6:58
severe depression and I don't have like a major transition I'm going through but I don't
7:03
really feel good the way things are going right now. So would it be beneficial talk to someone?
7:08
so yes that's I'm I'm happy to hear that you know you did end up you know seeking you
7:16
did end up you know getting the help that you that you needed but I did
7:21
think that's really interesting because a lotta research still show that you know a lot of people you know don't seek
7:26
help that they might benefit from and not necessarily that they need
7:32
but there is a lot of research that shows that both previous exposure to counseling which
7:37
obviously you had you had mentioned that you had in middle school as well as the perceived
7:42
need and I think that your exposure with your friends definitely may have affected your
7:47
you know your perceived need of treatment which you know something that a lot of people deal with because
7:52
you know not just because of you know how the media portrays mental disorder and mental health counseling but
7:58
a lot of the stigma surrounding mental health counseling such that you know people you know think of
8:03
it like you said as as you know something that you seek severe in situations or dire situations and
8:08
you know I think we're learning as a society that's not necessarily always the case but there's a really wide
8:14
range of benefits to her mental health counseling and they're not restricted just to exclusively tire problems.
8:19
So I'm glad that you definitely I'm definitely glad that you share that and I was wondering did you when
8:25
you first started to seek help either in middle school college or as a graduate student did you
8:30
feel in any shame about seeking help. Did you notice any of the stigma impacting your decision
8:35
of seeking counsel? I didn't actually I didn't feel in a shame but I remember being quiet about
8:41
it like I didn't share with everybody. I didn't like shot from the rooftops I'm in counseling but
8:46
I did share with my mom I told her that I was thinking about going to a counselor that I was struggling with you
8:51
know my family 's member is substance abuse issue or the unhealthy relationship I was
8:56
in and she completely supportive and I think that was really huge because it gave me the confidence
9:01
that I needed to then actually make the appointment and go. I think it's really important that we support our
9:07
friends and loved ones, if they decide they want or need to go to counseling that can give them
9:12
the boost the confidence to help get them there. I I agree totally. so
9:17
how long was that that I know you had mentioned that you you know had some issues with your family dynamics.
9:22
how long was it that that you were struggling with or you know not struggling with but considering
9:28
debating whether or not you wanted to see council. how long was it between when you you know kind of
9:33
were struggling with that and when you actually finally decided to go with was it was a long or was it a rather
9:39
you know quick decision for you. so for that one it was roughly over a period of a couple years.
9:44
my loved one with the substance issue that grew over time
9:49
and in the beginning we all had blinders on any wanna see what was happening and then eventually
9:54
family and friends kept talking about that the issue is getting worse and worse
10:00
and so it eventually became undeniable and so I definitely
10:05
that took a long time for me to except I kinda have my head in the sand with that one. the other
10:10
issues I thought helped a little more sooner so for instance the unhealthy
10:15
relationship I was in that was something I felt on a daily basis and that only
10:20
took me a couple months to realize hey this is not a situation I feel like I want to be and
10:26
but I wasn't ready to get out of that relationship yet so I kinda need someone to kinda sounding board
10:31
I can talk about what was going on and that actually
10:36
once I started counseling session only took me a couple of times talking to the person before I realized
10:41
yeah I need to make some changes and move on
10:46
so I'm really glad to hear that you know that one successfully for you and definitely hope that we can
10:51
you know kinda convey that that sense to other people. so I get from what I gather you
10:56
I understand it for you some of the main reasons that you finally chose to seek counsel were
11:02
you know kind of the family dynamics that you had mentioned but was there anything else that
11:07
you know specifically or even generally the time you know me to come around to finally seeking counsel or
11:12
you know me to overcome the hesitancy to see councils. I remember just feeling stuck like
11:17
I was just specially with substance abuse issue I was really like sad and angry and frustrated
11:22
I remember I didn't like feeling that way and I just felt like I was in the cycle of
11:27
getting upset and nothing happening so I remember I just thinking I really want to talk about this
11:33
and deal with it and move on. I didn't wanted to bring me down with the relationship
11:38
issue that was affecting some everyday life. my eating was off.
11:43
I was having a hard time sleeping. I was you know emotional and
11:49
moody a lot. so I didn't like my behaviors and how was feeling. so that
11:54
definitely caused me to wanna seek help and talk to someone. and these are things that.
11:59
thank you for sharing these are things that are a lot of people experience on a daily basis and there are
12:05
things with you know a lot of people wouldn't or you know some people might not consider you know dire situations or
12:10
extremely severe but you know what you said wouldn't when you're dealing with these things on a daily basis you know it can definitely take
12:15
a toll and you know I think that there's a lot of people that can genuinely benefit from counseling and
12:20
it's you know really refreshing to hear that you you know where you know scenario where you were a little bit you know overwhelmed
12:25
when you do choose to seek counseling this is for you so you don't really happy to hear that.
12:31
do you think that you're sharing with friends and family contributes to the stigma?
12:36
in other words do you think that you know whether or not you've discuss your seeking counsel with friends or family
12:41
has any affect on you know the societal stigma behind mental health counseling. I didn't
12:46
feel like it caused stigma for me. but I was also very cognizant of the fact that
12:51
I am female. I remember when I was growing up when we went
12:57
and saw the counselor in middle school and I remember my brother saying things like oh I'm a boy
13:02
and I need to go to counseling or I don't wanna talk about it and I definitely felt that it was easier
13:07
for me and more widely accepted for me as a female to seek counseling and I think that's such a shame I think that's
13:12
a myth and that we're doing a lot better about expelling that everyone
13:17
needs to have the ability to talk with someone to share how they're feeling
13:22
what they're going through and it doesn't matter your gender doesn't matter any situation
13:28
that everyone benefits from counseling and it doesn't matter the situation it could be something small like
13:33
oh I just bombed my test, I'm having a hard time getting over it. hey major life crisis. you know something
13:39
big happened and I'm having a hard time getting through this. so I think that talking
13:44
about it and just not feeling like your alone is really important. yeah I
13:49
agree wholeheartedly you know this we something as important as mental health in any capacity like you said
13:54
whether or something you know as menial as you know not doing too too I well test or you
13:59
know something you know severe. I don't think that should be restricted to you know gender or anything like that and
14:04
it's something that we do see unfortunately in society that you know it's gender
14:09
roles are such men do feel less comfortable seeking mental health counseling that women do
14:14
and that's you know definitely an issue but I think that regardless of gender there you know there
14:19
really are countless benefits to you know seeking counsel depending on you know the position that the individual
14:24
is in and I was just wondering as far as your experience were there any immediate
14:30
benefits do you noticed when you decide to seek counsel. definitely after
14:35
I remember that when I went to counseling and as an undergraduate I was really nervous
14:40
I wasn't sure what the experience was gonna be like I didn't know was the counselor gonna asked me to you know do things
14:45
and I'm not comfortable with or confront people have conversations uh. I'm not ready for and that was
14:50
not the case whatsoever so by the time when I sought counseling in grad school I already knew what to expect
14:56
even though I was seeing a different counselor I already had an idea of how the session would go and how it feel about it and I was really
15:01
excited to know that this is gonna help me I was like actually looking forward to it because I knew
15:06
this person 's gonna you know help me overcome these issues and I think one major benefit
15:11
was kinda more of a long-term benefit that I'm helping is help me with is just looking at things
15:17
from a different perspective. I think sometimes we're going through life and we have these blinders
15:22
on and we kinda get caught up in our own issues and we forgot to kinda step back and look
15:27
at things from other people 's perspectives from an outside perspective and that's something that I think
15:32
over the years I've learned to do a lot better. so having that outside perspective
15:38
so for instance if I'm having an issue now one thing I do automatically as I stop and I
15:43
think, so if a friend of mine came and had the same issue, would be something that they would say to me
15:48
how it they look at this or try and put myself in the shoes of the other person. especially
15:54
if there's something that's going on. I'm not understanding why they're saying what they're doing. I
15:59
think that's been really helpful too like well why would that person be in that situation and that helps a lot
16:04
in terms of effective communication and that's definitely been
16:10
something that I've taken from counseling. so seems like from what I gather there was some
16:15
you know some immediate benefits as far as you know stress relief and seems like there were some
16:20
you know benefits that you that you know that you benefit from in the in the long term as well as far
16:25
as some of these coping mechanisms and you know some of these strategies that you've learnt. you know
16:30
better adapt with both your perception and some of your cognition which you know I think is really important
16:35
especially for college aged students but you know even for you know what was well adjusted adults in
16:40
modern America I think that it's something that's you know very important to people you know try to maintain
16:45
stricter control over so you know I think that's definitely a great thing that you were able to find that you know
16:51
a sense of relief to a degree and so we we went over some of the long-term
16:56
advantages but as an adult now how might you reflect on your experience with seeking counsel.
17:01
you know would you would you say that it was an overall positive experience or negative experience you
17:07
know in either way is there anything you might change about your experience or things that you like
17:12
to highlight as the things that you wouldn't want to change. I thought my experiences
17:17
were overall very positive. I did see different counselors throughout
17:22
and so was it interesting to see how each of ways of counseling differ
17:27
on some offered more tough love and some were a little more supportive
17:33
and handholding. but basically ultimately everyone there was nonjudgmental they were kind
17:38
positive and they really helped me work through my issues and helped me kind
17:43
of own responsibility and put me in the driver 's of handling whatever problems I had.
17:48
so I think that was definitely a benefit and and just the judgment free atmosphere.
17:54
I still like I said before I'm very close to my family and we talk a lot about different things but they're
17:59
just some things are just personal that you wanna have someone else.
18:04
talk to about that you don't necessarily want to share with like a friend or a loved
18:10
one just you want that nonjudgmental sounding board. so that's why I think you know
18:15
having ongoing counseling can be really helpful. did you think that this before
18:20
you had decided to seek counseling did you think that this worry of yours
18:25
or kind of the fear of did you think that any fear of judgment played a role in
18:30
you're choosing to seek counsel? in other words did you before you chose to did you think that
18:35
did you have a feeling or worried that you were going to be judged and you know obviously you had mentioned that you'd you
18:41
know with you but that you did find that it was a judge free environment which I mean it was extremely great here and I think that a lot of
18:46
people experienced that but I think that the perception can that a lot of people do
18:51
feel that they might be judged before they go and I think that's a barrier that prevents a lot of people from going so I
18:56
was just wondering if you on a personal level experienced any of that? you know a sense of
19:01
judgment? yeah I think it really hard especially when we're dealing with like a deep issues right like trauma
19:06
or you know dealing with some really tough things I think it's not fun or easy talk
19:12
about and I think that that's a major reason why people choose not to go because they just want to avoid
19:17
it or not deal with it or not talk about it and so I know that
19:22
but I know I was able to feel comfortable talking to people because I knew
19:27
they weren't gonna you know share it with any other friends or loved ones they weren't gonna
19:33
you know gossip and they weren't gonna you know make me do things I wasn't ready to do yet.
19:38
so I think that was really really helpful and I think that just knowing that they were there
19:44
and I wasn't alone and I did have someone that I can share things with them is really helpful to
19:49
like I said the first time I learned some coping techniques like you know journaling
19:54
or stress relief. but sometimes you just need to talk to someone
20:00
and you need someone else's advice and wisdom and ideas to help you look at things
20:05
from a different perspective and so I think in that way counseling can be extreme and beneficial it's
20:10
hard it's not always easy or fun to go to but I finds that
20:15
it definitely helps move you forward and help you get over whatever it is that you're struggling
20:20
with and sometimes takes time and sometimes a it's little quicker. but I think that
20:25
it is definitely just a hundred percent peace of mind knowing that someone is there
20:31
and that they care and that they wanna help you think. I think I'm glad you feel that
20:37
way this is a lot of people that you know have experience with counseling feel the same way and that you
20:42
know most counselors if not all counselors do have you know a genuine desire and they tell you know help people
20:47
and they do have you know lessons here you know it's such a caring for you so
20:52
you know I'm glad that you found in that you didn't feel sense of judgment. it's a couple more
20:57
questions if you don't mind I was just wondering was what was some of the most common biases that you
21:02
had towards seeking counsel or what some of the most common biases at least that you might see today
21:07
as a coordinator of health and wellness in students now. well I think one
21:13
thing I've heard before is that people think oh well you know it's not that bad
21:18
or you know I I'm okay I don't I don't really need help but yet they're still struggling and it's still
21:23
affecting their everyday life so in that sense I would say no it's okay to still go and seek help
21:28
and talk to someone. sometimes I've also heard from people that well
21:33
I don't wanna go because that means there's something wrong with me or that means that I'm weak or that means that I can't
21:38
solve my own problems and that's not true either. I mean were humans we're supposed to you know be
21:44
there for each other and help each other out and there are times when we aren't able to solve
21:49
our own problems. so it's okay to to seek help, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you just means that
21:54
you know we're brave enough to ask for help and we need it and to
22:01
help us move forward and get over something that we're really struggling with and that's typical human emotion and
22:06
feeling we all struggle at times and it's okay and and when we struggle we need to
22:11
feel comfortable reaching out for help. I agree it's definitely something that
22:16
you know I'm glad that you've come around obviously as you know well adjusted adult you see in retrospect the benefits
22:21
you know what I really hope that we can you know kinda present some of these benefits and advantages to you know some current
22:27
students who might be struggling for you know any number of reasons because you know I think that the point
22:32
that you touched upon the kind of the fine mentality that you know you might even
22:37
admit that you you know you're having a hard time with your stressed out. but if you don't see that as you know
22:42
constituting a need to seek out so and you know it might not be it might not even constitute
22:48
a need as you might define the word but I think that in in your case you certainly
22:53
seem to benefit from it and I think that it's something that you know a lot of students you know like you said before
22:58
whether it's just you know due to you know some daily stressors or whether it's something that is you know severe
23:03
and you know in a big life event, I think that there is you know a lot of benefits to counseling
23:09
whether you whether you perceive that you need it in the truest sense
23:14
of the word or whether you think that it's something that you know just going inventing might benefit you I think
23:19
that there's you know a lot to offer from seeking council and you know I genuinely hope that we can you know get some more
23:24
people to you know at least tried out if they've never had an exposure
23:29
Now as far as Stonehill College itself do you think do you do you think that there's anything that can be done to
23:35
improve, you know breaking down some of the barriers that exist on campus? you
23:40
know do you think that there's anything about the Stonehill culture that currently is contributing to the stigma
23:45
or the bias? well I think that one thing that we're trying to improve upon and we are doing a better job of
23:50
but we can still do some more work on is just breaking the stigma about mental health
23:55
and well-being. we need to learn to talk about it more to share
24:00
our concerns when we see someone who we think is struggling and also to speak up
24:07
when we ourselves are struggling and I think that it's okay to talk about it, let people
24:12
know hey I'm struggling and I'm seeking help I'm going to counseling and share that.
24:17
I think that by talking that mental health and well-being it definitely will help break the stigma. it's also shows that
24:23
people feel sad and have lonely and are anxious now it's okay to feel
24:28
those ways but it's also okay to ask for help with that you should never feel like you need to suffer
24:33
in silence. you should always thank it's okay to speak up and ask for help. I would definitely
24:38
want more people on campus start having conversations with friends and loved ones about feeling
24:43
comfortable speaking up. I think if people start talking more, it would help people feel more free
24:49
and know that they're not alone. I think it's good knowing that you have the power to help yourself
24:54
feel better that each time you get help I can help you learn more ways of coping with future
25:00
stressors and a healthier way and I think that over time I've learned how to trust
25:05
how I fee'. To know that just because I'm thinking something it doesn't make it true
25:10
and to learn worrying about something that hasn't happened yet isn't helpful and
25:15
it keeps me stop from moving forward and worrying about the past also isn't helpful because it already
25:20
happened and I can't change it. so I can only move forward and make better choices in the future and
25:25
I would just want everyone here at Stonehill know that they can do the same, they can speak
25:31
up and ask for help and they can support one another. thank you. If
25:36
a student here at Stonehill did need help how might you refer them or you know what resources
25:41
are available here that you might recommend for student who struggling or you know might be avoiding
25:46
towards seeking help. yeah so we have a lot of different resources on campus. we have a wonderful
25:51
counseling services they have you know typical hours over in the Chapel of Mary,
25:57
eight thirty to four thirty. they also have night and emergency hours at night and on the weekends.
26:02
they're really great and you can talk to them the good news is we have unlimited counseling.
26:08
so some schools have like session limits like you can only go to a counselor for four sessions or
26:13
six sessions and then that's it. here at Stonehill we have unlimited so you can actually sign
26:18
up the counseling freshman year and see counselors all throughout up until your senior year
26:23
other resources we have sometimes students preferred talking to someone who's not from Stonehill
26:29
they just want to have the separations have we a really great resource that we connect with online
26:34
called the you lifeline .org. you can actually find the under the health and wellness website.
26:40
it is a college wellness website where you can actually take a survey
26:45
just to kind of assess yourself or friend to see if you need any help. they have a text message system
26:50
so if you're concerned or you're worried even at like midnight or three in the morning you can text the number
26:55
and some will text you back or they have a hotline you can call and talk to someone anytime. we
27:01
have a lot of other resources on campus to like the health and wellness Center. other places that people
27:06
have felt comfortable going to place like campus ministry or our health
27:11
services center. so there's a lot of really great options on campus depending upon what
27:16
you feel comfortable utilizing. I think the biggest thing is just you know learning to speak
27:21
up and asked for help and to support one another. definitely thank you I think that
27:26
you know it's definitely great. we want students as many students as possible to be aware of these resources because
27:31
you know at the end of the day you can only you know you need to know you need to be aware of these resources able to you
27:37
enabled in order to be able to utilize them and I think that it's important
27:42
for us to try to kinda emphasize and highlight some of these resources so you know
27:47
to to reiterate you lifeline counseling services health and wellness department campus ministries.
27:52
there's a lot of different read resources that students can utilize if you're you know feeling anxious
27:58
worried or you know depressed otherwise upset. just remember don't suffer
28:03
in silence there's a lot that can be done. thank you for listening to the podcast thanks for having me.
28:09

This is a machine transcription and is subject to error. Apologizes in advance.