Download final project - Active Minds

9845 Middle Meadow Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
[email protected]
June 30, 2009
Dear 2009 Scattergood Emerging Scholars Fellowship Committee:
I am very pleased to present the final report of my Scattergood Emerging Scholar’s Fellowship, the
Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge. Through this fellowship, I learned many things: how to plan, organize
and implement an event; how to keep an ongoing commitment alive throughout a semester; how to write
a proposal; how to keep priorities; how to manage time – these are just a few of the countless things I
have learned as a result of my Scattergood Fellowship project.
Through the Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge, I strongly believe that a number of students were reached
and affected because we reached out to people in an unconventional way. Through utilizing a Frisbee
challenge, we hopefully inspired new attitudes towards the mental health community. A diverse
collection of students participated in the event, intertwining social intact cliques while bringing an
diverse array of students working together to achieve the same goal regardless of their other social
backgrounds.
In the future semesters, I hope to hold another event with an even greater attendance. Through this
fellowship, I believe that I have begun to understand and recognize some of the important factors
regarding event planning and hope to host future events that will help to promote the mental health
community as well as resources available.
Thank you for this great opportunity to participate in a program as dedicated to raising awareness in
mental health among college students as this. I earnestly believe that it has had nothing less than a
tremendous affect on my life. Participation in this fellowship has helped me to realize my desire to
pursue future work in the field of mental health. Because those dealing with issues regarding their
mental health aren’t lepers, they are our neighbors, our sisters and brothers, our mothers and fathers, and
even our loved ones – and they deserve the same opportunities as anyone else.
Sincerely,
William Frese
Enc.
Scattergood Emerging Scholars Fellowship:
Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge
William Frese
Howard Community College
Columbia, MD
June 30, 2009
ABSTRACT:
The Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge was begun and completed with the sole intent of researching and compiling a
directory of mental health informational resources that are available to Howard Community College students and
disseminating that information to the students in a unique and creative manner. Several of the organizations
contacted either did not offer programs suited for less-than-severe mental health issues or were simply nonresponsive. The contents that were collected were distributed to both event participants as well as spectators of the
event, held in May during final exam week at the college. Along with the information bundle, individuals were
also presented with a survey that was collected by the event staff with reaction to the event, suggestions for
improvement, and individual impressions about Active Minds and mental health issues. The event proved a
success, attracting more than 40 people throughout the day. In any further attempts to recreate this project or even
use it as a template, two major recommendations should be considered. The first being the use of a committee to
share the burden. Secondly, efforts should be made to better educate school and mental health department staff
about positive mental health and non-substance-abuse-related mental health issues.
The years spent in college bring about much stress for students, and like with most things, an appropriate amount
is healthy, but when the student becomes overburdened with stress, it begins to affect their health. In society
today, there are tremendous levels of stress which one must overcome to achieve anything in life, but
unfortunately unless the treatment is court-ordered, there are very few resources available for anyone to lean on.
As a 2009 Scattergood Emerging Scholars Fellow, I attempted to broaden the awareness of the different mental
health programs and services available to Howard Community College (HCC) students and faculty by sponsoring
a fun and healthy community event that promoted a healthy sense of wellbeing. Through the promotion and
implementation of this event, participants made a positive investment in their mental health and hopefully gained
insight about local mental health resources available.
Background
According to one study, about 6.5 million of the 19 million new cases of depression this year will seek treatment
(Richardson et al., 2005). A NAMI study found that as many as 50% of college students surveyed describe their
mental health as being poor, but a significant number – nearly 50% of students as well as nearly 75% of parents –
lacked any sort of education about mental health and illness or are being offered said education through their
colleges or universities (NAMI, 2004).
Hailing from 104 different nations, Howard Community College’s (HCC’s) student body of 8000, while being
small in comparison to most traditional schools, offers a much more unique and broad look into the mental well
being of a wide variety of students. Mental health data specific to HCC is unavailable; it would be safe to
conclude that we are just as susceptible to negative mental health as any other college or university (HCC, 2008).
More than 60% of our students are part-time, most of which are working in the community and over half of HCC
students are women. In addition, more than 3/4ths of undergraduate students are enrolled in transfer credits
suggesting that the knowledge learned at HCC will travel with them in the future as they make the transition to a
four-year institution.
In any sort of treatment, whether it is psychological or physical, the first step to recovery is simply awareness of a
problem. With an even greater awareness of the different programs and organizations offered through HCC and
the Howard County community, we can help to not only advocate the importance of a healthy sense of wellbeing, but a healthy body as well. For my fellowship project, I research and catalogued a number of these
resources available to students, collected relevant information and attempted to raise awareness for these
programs in a new and creative way; through a fun Frisbee event. It was my intent to raise awareness of the
different organizations offering services dealing with mental health while also promoting positive mental health in
a fun, casual and engaging environment.
Project: Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge
As stated, physical activity has been shown to improve mental health. While many Americans are reluctant to
engage in a team sport, many are not as hesitant to toss a ball around, engage in a simple volleyball game, or toss
a Frisbee with a friend. The simplicity of the activity, the minimal equipment and rules, and the emphasis more
on the social aspects than the competition makes these kinds of physical activities ideal for improving mental
well-being.
Ultimate Frisbee, a sport started in the 1960’s, has achieved a great amount of momentum as well as poise. In
2001, Ultimate Frisbee was inducted into the World games which shows a level of growth and popularity which
may be measured. In less than 40 years, a sport was conceived and brought to flourish as a world-wide
competition. Recent statistics estimate that more than 4.038 million people played Ultimate Frisbee games in
2007 (SGMA, July 2008), 56% of which were between the ages of 18 and 34 (SGMA, October 2008). In addition
to its ever-growing popularity, Frisbee was selected because of its easy implementation, minimal equipment and
simplistic rules. While we did not follow the regulations for official games of Ultimate Frisbee, we used them as
a guideline for play. The game’s emphasis on team-wide cooperation and interaction also helps to promote a
positive sense of well-being.
Research
In order to properly conduct this project, we employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. While
our research was not scientific, it did give us a reasonable picture of what mental health information is available,
and some individual views and attitudes within our community concerning mental health.
Qualitative
In preparation for the Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge, I contacted numerous different organizations to learn and
assess what kinds of mental health resources are available to HCC students within our community. For the
purposes of this project, I defined community as the Howard Community College campus, Howard County
government programs and associations, and State of Maryland government programs and associations. My list of
potential contacts was compiled through Interent research. Initial contact was made either by telephone call or
email, after introducing myself, I explained that I was a college student at the local community college as well as
president of our chapter of Active Minds and that I would be holding an event on campus to spread awareness of
mental health support programs and options from community organizations as well as information about different
mental illnesses. Whether I emailed or called or even attempted to show up in person to introduce myself, the
result was the same each time with both Maryland and Howard County’s mental health associations: no response.
Throughout the months of late January through late April, I was able to schedule visits or drop by to six different
mental health organizations but most proved unsuccessful as they did not have programs for mental health issues
unless the problems were severe and usually substance-abuse related. One organization in particular which was
more than willing to lend not only a helping hand and materials, but also a friendly welcome: National Alliance
on Mental Illnesses: Howard County (NAMI Howard County). They donated a substantial number of sky-blue
wristbands which read “OPEN YOUR MIND” for distribution at the event and were incredibly helpful during the
planning process. I also met with initial resistance from the HCC Wellness Center to help, but once the event was
given SGA approval the Center donated a number of chap-sticks for the event. Multiple handouts as well as
literature were obtained through Active Minds, inc., which I utilized substantially for the literature that I
distributed to participants and spectators alike.
Quantitative
During the event, we elected to conduct a non-scientific survey of participants and spectators in an attempt to gain
a better understanding of the HCC’s community view of mental health issues and the event. Of those
participating in the survey, the majority of respondents – 51 percent or 24 people – indicated they were spectators,
as opposed to 45 percent, or 21 individuals, who noted they were challenge participants. It is believed the number
of participants is approximately 17 percent – or 8 people – less than actuality because several individuals initially
filled out a survey as spectators to receive the free literature being disseminated in conjunction with the event only
to later return and participate in the games. Four percent of the survey participants did not respond to this
question.
According to survey responses, the Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge gained most of its attention – 87 percent –
because of individuals walking by the event itself, while event fliers and recommendation by friends both brought
about 10 percent of respondents’ attention each. The Facebook event posted was not noticed by any respondents,
while 6 percent listed “other.” Note that some respondents listed multiple responses.
Approximately 80 percent of respondents had not heard of Active Minds prior to the Frisbee event, but 89 percent
indicated they would attend the event again in the future.
More than 93 percent of respondents replied that they “possess[ed] a healthy sense of wellbeing,” and 77 percent
felt there is “sufficient mental health resources available” if needed. However, 72 percent felt there was still a
stigma associated with the term “mental health.”
More than 50 percent of respondents – 27 – provided additional comments for improving the event. The majority
of the comments – 44 percent – noted the event was “nice” and needed nothing in terms of improvement.
Approximately 22 percent felt additional promotion of the event, particularly signage, could be improved while
nearly 15 percent had comments related to the actual structure of the Frisbee game and event. Other comments
included the suggestion of music, beginning the event earlier in the day, hosting the event more often, and making
the event more accessible to those with physical disabilities.
Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge
Hosted in conjunction with the HCC’s Active Minds’ club, the “Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge” attempted to
promote steps towards a positive state of mental health and introduce different campus-wide organizations
providing mental health support and programs. The “Flyin’ High Ultimate Frisbee Tournament” was a daylong event at HCC and open to both students as well as faculty. In order to host this event, certain obstacles had
to be overcome. The first step was to initially meet with Alison Malmon through a phone interview which
resulted in a number of suggestions as well as advice for the upcoming project. Following the phone meeting
with Alison came time to meet with various organizations such as NAMI, HCC’s Wellness Center, HCC’s Career
and Counseling Services Center in order to inform them of the upcoming event and to gather any information that
they may want to have distributed. Following the meetings with the various mental health organizations both
campus and community-wide, additional research was needed to determine what literature would be distributed,
including handouts available online regarding mental illness as well as what was made available from said
organizations. After the handouts were compiled, a resource list of responsive mental health related organizations
with appropriate contact information was created for distribution. The most efficient being the handouts available
through Active Minds itself, which were then added into bundles to be distributed. Once the bundles were
finalized, the event needed to be approved by HCC’s Student Government Association (SGA), so proposals were
written and submitted. When the event was finally approved, it needed additional approval from the
Sustainability and Safety Manager of HCC for safety and security reasons. Once approval was granted from both
the SGA and the Sustainability and Safety Manager, advertising began through flyers placed throughout the main
buildings on campus. Shortly following the advertisements, each of the bundles had to be assembled and
packaged.
The event was held on May 13th, 2009 in the HCC campus quad. On the day of the event, the sun was shining and
the campus was booming with students waiting for their classes to begin. As the day began, five volunteers –
including Mark Peters from Active Minds -- and the club advisor arrived for set-up, which included posting the
event’s logo; marking the playing field; setting up a literature table which included a banner, balloons and
literature bundles; sorting the t-shirts to be distributed into various size piles; and setting the surveys out on
numerous clipboards for quick and easy access. The bundles themselves consisted of a cover letter written which
explained the reasons for hosting the event, several different handouts regarding the various mental illnesses and
symptoms, two handouts about the Active Minds organization along with a silicone wristband (similar to the
Livestrong bands) which read “Open Your Mind” donated by NAMI of Howard County, chap stick that was
donated from the HCC’s Wellness Center, and a mug from the historic Civil War trail.
Surveys were distributed among participants to determine the effectiveness of the event and general awareness of
mental health services available to students. In exchange for completing the survey, participants and volunteers
were given a tournament t-shirt, which will also include Active Minds’ name and information. Spectators that
visited the booth but did not want to participate were also asked to complete a survey in exchange for the
information bundles.
Conclusion
Mental health is a vital part of our wellbeing that needs attention and maintenance just like one’s heart, lungs, or
glucose levels. I believe this project was a tremendous success in both the great outcome of the event and the
dismal results of the qualitative literature research. The Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge outcome was greater than
I had imagined. As previously noted, at least 47 people visited our booth and an estimated 28 people got out on
the field and played Frisbee, hopefully helping to maintain and even improve their positive mental states during a
time of extreme student stress – final exams. The reactions that I observed from the various participants as well
as spectators were incredibly positive. As the event unfolded, more and more students became interested in
participating, or at the very least inquiring more information as to what we were doing. Among the individuals
who elected to complete a survey, 23.4% of the results believe that there is no stigma surrounding mental health,
19.1% believe that there are insufficient resources available, and 80% believe that they possess a healthy sense of
well-being. These are encouraging results, and hopefully something our Active Minds chapter can build on and
improve.
And while the literature search might be viewed by some as disappointing, it also presents an exciting and
interesting opportunity for building programs and support for an important population segment – college-aged
students. It is my hope that in reaching out to these organizations will help them to realize the interest and need
for assistance for this demographic. More importantly; in learning that most programs target more severe
problems and nothing for the promotion and maintenance of positive mental health, there exists a great
opportunity for someone to advance this initiative in the future.
Throughout this fellowship, I spent time researching and meeting with various organizations, writing proposals,
planning and hosting an event in order to distribute a catalogue of resources which I found and felt beneficial for
any college student enrolled in Howard Community College. I feel strongly that at the outcome and the results of
the surveys that the project I completed for this fellowship was an amazing success; the amount of surveys
collected and amount of interest inspired certainly give substantial grounds for such a claim. If only one student
were to use even one piece of information obtained through the literature distributed, then the goal of my project
will have been met.
Recommendations
Despite our tremendous success in this inaugural event, there are areas that with improvement would prove
beneficial in not only our event but in fighting the stigma associated with mental health.
The greatest challenge I encountered with this project was a prevalent being the lack of communication with
certain organizations such as Mental Health Association: Maryland and the Howard County Health Department. I
was shocked at the overall lack of information and programs available to HCC students. In making a series of
requests for information and assistance from the Howard County Health Department it seemed as though the
organization had little interest in assisting with mental health issues unless it is a court-ordered form of
rehabilitation, most being substance addiction or substance abuse oriented. Due to their lack of response and
seemingly less than willing attitude to reach out toward this college student, I chose not to list their facilities in
my resource catalogue distributed at the event It is important to help this department and similar organizations
understand that mental health is something of importance to everyone, not just those addicted to drugs. In order
to properly address the problem concerning a lack of communication between certain organizations and college
students, further study and research must be conducted.
In this vein, I found a vast deficit in resources available to college students, with the exception of Active Minds,
inc. which has a wealth of handouts and information available. In the future, a survey of more national
organizations for college students should be researched for their support and resources on positive mental health.
Aside from Active Minds, inc. and NAMI MD, organizations such as MHAMD and On Our Own of Howard
County need to be more readily available to assist those in need, regardless of the individual’s situation – these
organizations are meant to be available to the entire community, which clearly includes HCC students. The sheer
fact alone that the Howard County Health Department told me on more than one occasion that unless the illness is
addiction related, their services were unavailable – to think that a department which claims to aid in all health
would simply turn a blind eye to individuals whom may suffer from any number of mental illnesses is a sad state
of affairs.
Another problem was that we were not prepared for accommodating one physically challenged individual
attending the event, as was noted in the comments section of a survey. In the future, we will need to consider
possible accommodations for those with physical needs or possibly alternative activities.
Lastly, I ran into issues regarding the SGA’s approval for the event itself as well as with advertising for the event;
even with their approval on my flyer, said flyers were removed shortly after they were posted. It is possible the
newness of our Active Minds’ chapter contributed to this problem, as we only became an official club during the
spring 2009 semester. In order to help avoid this problem with future events, I believe that additional HCC and
community exposure to our club and communication with the SGA president directly would help greatly.
Appendix 1 - Review of information from local mental health information
Organization
Active Minds
Address/Contact Info
Howard Community College
Wellness Center
Howard Community
College
Galleria Bldg.
410-772-4950
Howard Community Met with Dr. Putman on various occasions to
College
receive literature, plans and suggestions
RCF Bldg, Room 302 regarding the event
410-772-4840
9151 Ramsey Road
 Emailed to set up meeting
Columbia, MD 21045
 Met with Susan Helsel, Executive
410-772-9300
Director NAMI-Howard County, MD
and received numerous silicone
wristbands for distribution
th
711 W. 40 St.
On several occasions emails were sent
Suite 460
without any response (Jan 09, Feb 09, Mar
Baltimore, MD
09, Apr 09)
21211
410-2351178
[email protected]
6355 Woodside Ct.
Called on 4/16/09 and was connected to
Columbia, MD 21046 director of public relations whom was on
410-381-7171
vacation and promptly left a message
[email protected] Upon no response to phone message, emails
were sent on 4/20/09, 4/28/09 and 5/3/09
6440 Dobbin Rd.
Drove to their office on Dobbin Rd. at 2pm
Columbia, MD 21045 and it was closed on 4/16/09
410-772-7905
Called their office on 4/20/09 and left a
message – no response was recieved
Howard Community College
Counseling and Career
Services Center
National Alliance on Mental
Illnesses: Howard County
Mental Health Association of
Maryland
Humanim
On Our Own of Howard
County
Result
 Mentoring
 Received several Active Minds
Frisbees as well as various handouts
 Was ignored until SGA approval
 After approval, was donated a large
quantity of chap-sticks
Appendix 2 – Spectator/Participant Survey
Thank you for being a part of the HCC Active Minds’ first Flying High Frisbee Challenge! We would appreciate if
you could fill out our short survey to help us with future planning.
Today were you a:
 FRISBEE CHALLENGE PARTICIPANT
or a  SPECTATOR?
How did you hear about us:
 FLIERS
FRIENDS
 FACEBOOK
 WALKED-BY  OTHER
Had you heard of Active Minds before today?  YES  NO
Do you feel you possess a healthy sense of wellbeing?  YES  NO
Do you feel there are sufficient mental health resources available to you in the event you ever wanted them?
(ex. Wellness Center, county health department, help hotlines, etc.)?
 YES  NO
Do you feel there is a stigma associated with “mental health”?  YES  NO
If we were to have this event again in the future, would you participate?
 YES  NO
What would you recommend to make this event better?
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to seeing you at our events next fall! Have a great summer!
Appendix 3 – Participant/Spectator Surveys Summary
Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge Participant/Spectator Survey Responses
Collected May 13, 2009
47
Total Surveys
Respondents Classification
Participant
Spectator
21
24
Total responses
“How did you hear about us?”
Fliers
Friends
Facebook
Walked-by
Other
Total responses
“Had you heard of Active Minds before today?”
Yes
No
Total responses
“Do you feel you possess a healthy sense of wellbeing?”
Yes
No
Total responses
“Do you feel there are sufficient mental health resources available to you in the event
you ever wanted them?”
Yes
No
Total responses
“Do you feel there is a stigma associated with ‘mental health’?”
Yes
No
Total responses
“If we were to have this event again would you participate?”
Yes
No
Total responses
“What would you recommend to make this event better?
Total responses
“Put out more flyers”; “Bigger signs”; “Do more of this”; “Unknown”; “I don’t know – it
seems nice”; “Be more outgoing!”; “More rules/structure”; “Great enthusiasm”; “No
other ideas”; “More time”; “More publicity”; “Nothing – good job”; “Music”; “More
activities for the disabled (i.e. physically disabled like me – I have cerebral palsy)”;
“Several team events followed by a tournament”; “Music”; “Nothing, it was very
informal”; “Yes”; “Good as is”; “Play football”; “Prior notice”; “Not enough info yet”;
“None”; “Nothink!”; “None – Perfect!”; “No”; “Nothing”; “Come earlier”; “Have a real
field”.
45
5
5
0
41
3
47
9
37
46
43
3
46
36
11
47
34
11
45
42
5
47
27
Appendix 4 – Literature Distributed at Event
Dear Flyin’ High Frisbee Fan,
Thanks for joining us in the first Flyin’ High Frisbee Challenge, sponsored by Active Minds, Inc. and
the Scattergood Foundation. We know that this week is hectic for most students as classes wind-down
and exams are on the horizon. Did you know that physical activities like playing Frisbee can help lower
stress levels? By taking time to participate in this event today, you are taking steps toward reducing
stress.
Active Minds is a new student club on campus whose local goal is to provide HCC students a fresh and
positive perspective on mental health. While we are not a support group, Active Minds is an HCC
student club devoted to promoting a healthy sense of wellbeing in the HCC community and to nationally
change the conversation about mental health.
Special thanks go out to Active Minds, Inc. for giving us a template to grow our club from; to the
Scattergood Foundation; to Alison Malmon, founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, Inc., and
program mentor; and to Alissa Putman and Ronnie Uhlman, our HCC club advisors.
We hope that you join us in the fall for club rush and the many other fun and exciting events we at
Active Minds have planned for the upcoming semester!
Thanks
Will Frese
Student President of HCC Chapter, Active Minds
Who are we?
We are part of a national organization founded by Alison Malmon following the tragic
suicide of her brother while he was a college student. We work to break the silence
about mental health and start a dialogue among students in hopes of creating a
campus culture where it is ok to get help.
What do we do?

Host stress-free events that raise awareness about mental health issues

Provide resources about college student mental health to our peers

Advocate to reduce the stigma of seeking help
Did you know…

Nearly half of all college students report feeling depressed at some point during their
time in college?

It is estimated that 20-30% of college-age women may display bulimic behaviors

More then 60% of college students report feelings of hopelessness?

Suicide claims the lives of over 1,100 college students each year, making it the 2nd
leading cause of death of people our age.

1 in 12 students has made a suicide plan?
Join us in breaking the silence at
Howard Community College!
What is Active Minds?
Active Minds is the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to raising mental health awareness
among college students, on the peer level. Within a span of less than five years, Active Minds has become
the young adult voice in mental health advocacy and the organizational catalyst for young adult mental
health awareness on college and university campuses nationwide.
Research shows that most people who suffer from mental illness experience their first episode of
depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and others during these critical years; what the general
public doesn’t know is that, unfortunately, these diseases can ruin a young life: Suicide is the second
leading cause of death among college students; and the tragedy is that these illnesses are treatable.
It is incumbent on this young generation of leaders to educate, support, and advocate on behalf of their
peers so that future generations of young people will have access to the mental health services they need –
and dispel the stigma that goes along with these often deadly brain diseases.
Active Minds works with student leaders on college campuses across the United States to:

promote awareness about mental health;

help identify symptoms of mental illness, and

direct students to available resources on campus and in the community.
Organizational History:
Active Minds was founded in 2001 by Alison Malmon, then a junior at the University of Pennsylvania,
following the suicide of her only sibling, twenty-two year old brother Brian Malmon a year earlier.
Troubled that her brilliant and popular brother had struggled with depression in silence, even though he
maintained a full schedule of extra curricular activities and a superior grade point at Columbia University,
Alison was convinced that stigma and lack of information kept Brian from seeking help.
Determined to combat the stigma and address the lack of awareness about mental illnesses that most often
strike young people at the pinnacle of their educational careers, Alison launched a program to promote
mental health awareness on her campus. Just two years later, Alison created the 501(c)3 organization
which now works with students on more than one hundred campuses nationwide and has been recognized
by national organizations and media for its innovative approach to combating stigma and promoting
positive mental health.
By engaging young adults in advocating for positive mental health, Active Minds works to break the
stigma that causes too many to suffer in silence – and to prevent the tragic loss of life. Active Minds serves
as the only link between young adult mental health advocates on more than one hundred college
campuses throughout the United States and Canada.
If you’re interested in participating in Active Minds on HCC’s campus, please contact Dr. Alissa
Putman at (410) 772-4032 or [email protected].
Did You Know?:
Famous People with Mental Illness
Ben Stiller is candid about having Bipolar Disorder, Erin Brokovich shares her stories as
recovering from Anorexia, and Rosie O’Donnell has suffered from Depression for over 20
years—check out these other well known individuals who have also suffered from mental
illness. And remember, you can live a fuller life and enjoy your creativity even more if
you get help. You don’t have to spend a lifetime suffering.
Athletes:
 Lionel Aldridge-Defensive end for Green Bay Packers; Schizophrenia
 Jimmy Piersal-Former Red Sox Baseball player; Bipolar Disorder
 Ricky Williams-Professional Football Player; Social Anxiety Disorder
 Jennifer Capriati – Tennis Player with Three Grand Slam Titles; Depression
Movies/TV Celebrities:
 Marilyn Monroe-Model, Actress; Chronic Depression, Died by Suicide
 Drew Carey, Anthony Hopkins, Harrison Ford-Actors; Depression
 Roseanne-Actress, Comedian; Multiple Personality Disorder, OCD, Depression
 Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robin Williams-Actors; Bipolar Disorder
Artists:
 Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Pete Wentz, Janet Jackson, Alanis
Morissette-Singers and Songwriters; Depression
 Vincent Van Gogh-Painter, Ludwig von Beethoven-Composer, Edgar Allen PoeWriter; Bipolar Depression
Political Leaders:
 Abraham Lincoln-American President; Depression
 Theodore Roosevelt-American President; Bipolar Disorder
 In reference to Winston Churchill, Anthony Storr wrote, “Had he been a stable
and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all the
odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded
that we were finished”
Did You Know?:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The








Symptoms of Anxiety:
Unrealistic or excessive worry or fears
Exaggerated startle reactions
Sleep disturbances
Ritualistic behaviors (i.e. excessive hand washing, counting things)
Shakiness and trembling
Racing or pounding heart
High pulse and/or breathing rate
Muscle aches and/or tension

GAD affects about 4 million adult Americans; about twice as many women as men
 The disorder comes on gradually and can begin across the life cycle, though the
risk is highest between childhood and middle age

It is diagnosed when someone spends at least 6 months worrying excessively about a
number of everyday problems. There is evidence that genes play a modest role

GAD is commonly treated with psychotherapy and medication

GAD rarely occurs alone, however; it is usually accompanied by another anxiety
disorder, depression, or substance abuse
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorders,
post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders
Did You Know?:
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and
unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress
or extreme concern about body shape or weight

The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and
binge-eating disorder

More than 7 million women and 1 million men experience an eating disorder in this
country alone

Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early
adulthood, and females are much likely than males to develop them

Researchers estimate that as many as 20-30% of college-age women may display
bulimic behaviors

An estimated 2-3% of young women develop bulimia, 1 in 250 are estimated to be
suffering from anorexia nervosa, and 2% from binge eating disorder

Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other psychiatric disorders such as
depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders

In addition, people who suffer from eating disorders can experience a wide range
of physical health complications, including:
 Serious heart conditions and kidney failure which may lead to death
 Cessation of menstruation
 Erosion of tooth enamel and increased cavities
 Lightheadedness and dizziness or fainting
 Sensitivity to cold
 Dry skin and thinning scalp hair
 Mortality rate is 5-15% (lower with treatment)
Did You Know?:
Clinical Depression

Depression is diagnosed if a person experiences 1) persistent feelings of sadness
or anxiety or 2) loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities in addition to five or
more of the following symptoms for at least 2 consecutive weeks:
Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains not related to
dieting
 Insomnia or oversleeping
 Loss of energy or increased fatigue
 Restlessness or irritability
 Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
 Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
 Sadness and depression are not the same. While feelings of sadness will lessen

with time, the disorder of depression can continue for months, even years

Clinical depression affects twice as many women as men

Half of all adults with depression report onset before age 20.

It is estimated that 1 out of 4 women and 1 out of 10 men will suffer from
depression in their lifetime, and each year it affects nearly 1 in 10 (17million)
Americans

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. The majority (80%90%) of people who receive treatment experience significant improvement, and
almost all individuals gain some relief from their symptoms
Log onto www.depressionscreening.org
to take a free depression screening test
Did You Know?:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from experiencing, witnessing or
participating in an overwhelmingly traumatic event. Often, people with PTSD have
persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally
numb, especially with people they were once close to

PTSD affects about 5.2 million adult Americans (up to 10% of the population).

Women are more likely than men to develop PTSD

It can occur at any age, including childhood

In those who do develop PTSD, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the
trauma, and must last more than a month to be diagnosed

The disorder is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or
more other anxiety disorders. In severe cases, the person may have trouble
working or socializing

People with PTSD can be helped by psychotherapy and medication

Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger flashbacks or
intrusive images. Anniversaries of the traumatic event are often very difficult
Did You Know?:
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disease whose patients experience
illogical and confused thought patterns, hearing internal voices not heard
by others, or beliefs that other people are reading their minds, controlling
their thoughts, or plotting to harm them
 Some symptoms of schizophrenia include:
 Changes in work performance/social relationships
 Confused thinking
 Hallucinations and delusions
 Unusual perceptions
 75% of patients develop schizophrenia between the ages of 15-25
 Schizophrenia affects men and women equally
 150 of every 100,000 people will develop schizophrenia
 Schizophrenia is NOT “Split Personality”
 Approximately 10% of people with schizophrenia (especially younger
adult males) commit suicide
With treatment, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be controlled, and
recovery is often possible in those who receive prompt, continuous
treatment and rehabilitation
Did You Know?:
Bipolar Disorder
Common Manic Stage Behaviors:
 Unusual amounts of energy that effect mood and/or sleep
 Uncharacteristic participation in high-risk activities that are likely to lead to
painful results, such as spending sprees, foolish investments.
 Disconnected, racing thoughts
Common Depressive Stage Behaviors:
 Excessive crying; constant fatigue and inertia
 Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities
 Overwhelming feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness


The moods of a person with bipolar disorder, which is also called manic depression,
swing from periods of intense elation to periods of intense sadness
Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early
adulthood
Unlike other forms of depression, bipolar disorder affects men and women equally.
Nearly one in every 100 people will experience the disorder at some time in their
lives
 The psychological basis for bipolar disorder is better understood than other forms
of depression, making the illness one of the most effectively treated
 Because of the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder, people who have a close
relative with the condition are 10-20 times more likely to develop either
depression or bipolar disorder than the general population
 There is help: 70% or more of those patients with bipolar disorder respond well

to medication that helps reduce the frequency and intensity of manic episodes. A
combination of professional counseling and medication helps most
patients return to productive and fulfilling lives
Counseling and Career Services
Howard Community College
RCF Student Services Building, Room 302
Call 410-772-4840 to schedule an appointment.
http://www.howardcc.edu/counseling
Wellness Center
Howard Community College
Galleria Building
Office: 410-772-4950
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center
6700 Freetown Road
Columbia, Maryland 21044
Office: 410-531-6006
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 410-531-6677
Family and Children’s Services/Family Center
Wilde Lake Village Center
10451 Twin Rivers Road
Columbia, Maryland 21044
Office: 410-997-3557
Humanim Center
6355 Woodside Court
Columbia, Maryland 21046
Office: 410-381-7596
Sheppard Pratt Clinic of Howard County
9030 Route 108
Columbia, Maryland 21046
Office: 410-740-1901
STTAR Center (Sexual Trauma, Treatment, Advocacy & Recovery Center)
10015 Old Columbia Road, Suite G118
Columbia, Maryland 21046-1745
Office: 410-290-6432
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 410-997-3292
http://www.sttarcenter.org
Domestic Violence Center of Howard County
Gorman Plaza
8950 Route 108, Suite 116
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Office: 410-997-0304
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-752-0191
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Howard County
9151 Ramsey Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Office: 410-772-9300
The Serenity Center
9650 Basket Ring Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045-3421
Office: 410-884-6088
http://serenitycenter.homestead.com
Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard Pratt and Enoch Pratt Hospital, B Building
6501 North Charles Street
Towson, Maryland 21204
Office: 410-938-5252
http://www.eating-disorders.com
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Toll Free 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 800-784-2433 and 800-273-8255
Appendix 5 – Budget
Preparation
Committee/Volunteer Meeting (2)
Advertising, HCC Times (School Newspaper)
Proposed
Budget
$60
$200
Actual Budget
$30
$0 *
($100/per ¼ page
ad for April and
May editions)
Advertising, Flyers and Press Releases
$15
$25
$240
$0 **
Event
Field Rental
($30/hr for 7 hours)
Ultimate Frisbee Equipment (regulation
frisbees, cones, referee whistles, etc.)
T-shirts for participants
Participant Wristbands
Water, Ice, Trashbags (for volunteers and
participants)
First Aid supplies
Handouts
Chapstick
Civil War Trail large coffee mug
FHF Decorations (Banner and Balloons)
Evaluation forms
$40
$0 ***
$302
$18
$75
$425
$0 
$40 
(estimate 2 bottles
per participant per
game; 2 bottles per
volunteer per hour)
$35
N/A
N/A
N/A
$10
$0
$65 
$0
$0 
$0 
$10
($.07 per page; 2page form for
participants and
volunteers)
Wrap-up
Final report
$5
$0
(copy costs and
postage)
ESTIMATE
TOTAL
$1000
$525
* Was advised against placing advertisements, but instead posting flyers around school.
** As a new HCC Club, was able to use a smaller public area for free as opposed to renting an
athletic field.
*** Frisbees were donated by Active Minds.
 Wristbands were donated by NAMI MD
 Trashbags and cans were donated by HCC Maintenance Dept.; We elected not to use ice
because of associated mess
 We initially thought we would collect enough handouts from other organizations but when
that did not happen, we created and duplicated them on our own
 Donated by HCC Wellness Center
 Donated by Active Minds supporters.
References
Campus Blues (n.d.). “Helpful Facts about Depressive Illnesses” Retrieved January 4, 2009 from
http://www.campusblues.com/depress_facts.asp
Howard Community College (2008). “HCC at a Glance.” Retrieved January 7, 2009 from
http://www.howardcc.edu/about_hcc/campus_profile/hcc_at_a_glance.html
Landers, D.M. (n.d.) “The Influence of Exercise on Mental Health.” Retrieved January 4, 2009 from
http://www.fitness.gov/mentalhealth.htm
NAMI (2004 August 25). “Mental Illness Among College Students.” Retrieved January 4, 209 from
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Press_Room1/20041/August3/Mental_Illness_Prolific_Am
ong_College_Students.htm
Office of the Surgeon General (1996) "The US Surgeon General's
Report on Physical Activity and Health." Retrieved January 7, 2009
from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4550
Richardson, C.R., Faulkner, G., McDevitt, J., Skrinar, G.S., Hutchinson, D.S., and Piette, D.S. (2005 March).
“Integrating Physical Activity Into Mental Health Services for Persons With Serious Mental Illness.”
Retrieved January 4, 2009, from http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/56/3/324
Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association/SGMA (2008, October 2). “Sanction Team Sports Play In US
Remains Strong, But…”. Retrieved January 7, 2009 from http://www.sgma.com/press/93/SanctionedTeam-Sports-Play-In-the-US-Remains-Strong%2C-But...
Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association/SGMA (2008, July 7). “Extreme Sports: An Ever-Popular
Attraction.” Retrieved January 7, 2009 from http://www.sgma.com/press/2/Extreme-Sports%3A-AnEver-Popular-Attraction