New resource helps make academic transitions easier for students

by David Venn, Project Coordinator; and
Stan Kutcher, MD, FRCPC and Chair,
Sun Life Financial Adolescent Mental Health Knowledge Translation Team

Mental health problems are the single most disabling health disorder affecting young people, according to the World Health Organization. In fact, about 15 to 20 per cent of children and adolescents in Canada are suffering from some form of mental disorder.

The adolescent years are thus a critical window in which mental health can be promoted and problems can be addressed in a manner that will improve mental health and de-stigmatize mental illness.

Within the “average" classroom, three to four students will suffer from some form of mental disorder, making schools an ideal place to address mental health promotion, introduce targeted mental health interventions and stigma reduction, as well as address the linkage between mental disorders and learning.

Many schools, particularly at the post-secondary level, are trying their best to help their students recognize and address problems. Early identification of mental health issues is an important first step. If left untreated, they can affect student success in three major ways.

First, mental disorders affect the emotional well-being of students. If left untreated, they can hinder a young person’s social development, leaving them feeling isolated, stigmatized and unhappy. To deal with these problems, some may turn to socially or personally inappropriate methods of coping, such as violence, drugs or alchohol. Mental disorders may also impact a young person’s capacity to develop and keep a strong and supportive peer network, including positive relationships with adults.

Second, mental disorders may present considerable barriers to learning since most mental illnesses are characterized by unique learning challenges. Studies have shown that poor social-emotional functioning and difficulty meeting academic standards are two common obstacles for students with mental disorders. Some illnesses, such as learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, present distinct challenges to successful learning. These problems can then continue as young people transition to the workplace, thus decreasing the likelihood of vocational success.

And third, mental disorders are a factor in why some students drop out of school. About 15 per cent of youth attending post-secondary school drop out before finishing their program (Statistics Canada, 2004). Students cite many reasons for dropping out of school, but near the top of the list are reasons relating to their mental health. Sadly, many of these dropouts could be prevented with early and effective interventions.

When you combine these issues with all of the other social and academic pressures facing young people, it is no wonder that some students find the transition from secondary school to college or university to be difficult.

The transition into a new educational and social environment can create stress that some students are ill-equipped to manage. Moreover, the period between the ages of 18 and 25 is the time when many mental disorders, such as depression, psychosis and anxiety disorders, first present. All of these factors (and others) can affect the transition to college or university for some students.

So what can be done?

One way to help students cope with the transition from secondary to post-secondary education is to give them the knowledge they need to understand, identify and address common problems.

Transitions: Student Reality Check is a resource for youth doing just that. Transitions informs first-year students about some of the major issues they may face when at college or university. It also provides suggestions on how to deal with these problems effectively. Transitions includes information about time management, interpersonal relationships, sexual activity, financial planning, mental illness, suicide, addictions and mental health self-help. It also contains recommendations about campus counseling services and where students can go to get help or more information if they need it.

The booklet was developed by Dr. Stan Kutcher, Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, and written by Jacqueline Potvin-Boucher, with input from students, educators, health professionals, parents and school counselors.

In 2007, with funding and support from the IWK Mental Health and Addictions Program, Transitions was printed and distributed in orientation packages to all first-year students attending post-secondary schools in Nova Scotia.

This year the project is going national. Transitions is now available as a ready-for-print electronic document offered through the Sun Life Financial Chair (www.teenmentalhealth.org) to all post-secondary institutions across Canada and can be customized to meet the needs of each school.

The Transitions package includes two components: a personal resource booklet for each first-year student and a larger resource book that is intended to be available at counseling services offices, school libraries, or used in whatever manner the school sees fit.

Transitions is a new approach, but it seems to be working. A recent survey of over 100 post-secondary students who received the booklet revealed that nine out of 10 of them could relate to the material and enjoyed reading it; and one in five students planned on visiting counseling services because of Transitions.

One of the most interesting findings from the survey is that over 40 per cent of young people said they discussed the booklet with a friend. This suggests that young people may be taking an interest in the mental well-being of others as well as their own mental health. It appears that creating new avenues to bring those who need help to the right place may also act to decrease the stigma that still surrounds mental disorders.

By informing youth of the transitions and risks they might encounter as they move from high school to post-secondary education, Transitions empowers students with the tools necessary to make smart choices about their health and well-being. The Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health hopes that this resource will help colleges and universities better address their students’ needs, and in doing so, improve their social and learning outcomes – not only in school, but later in the workplace as well.

Transitions is only a small step towards enhancing mental health and addressing mental health problems in young people – but it already appears to be a good one!

David Venn is a freelance writer and a project coordinator on the Sun Life Financial Adolescent Mental Health Knowledge Translation Team.

Dr. Stan Kutcher is the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, a partnership between the IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. The Chair is dedicated to helping improve the mental health of youth by the effective translation and transfer of scientific knowledge.

General Inquiries:

Canadian Psychiatry Aujourd’hui
141 Laurier Avenue West
Suite 701
Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3
613-234-2815 ext. 235
Fax: 613-234-9857
E-mail: aujourdhui@cpa-apc.org

Display and Classified Ad Inquiries:

Smita Hamzeh
E-mail: advertising@cpa-apc.org