It’s that time of year. Back to school — new beginnings, anxiety, stress and excitement all rolled into one. We have a few important lessons to think about this back to school season with our new landscape (post Newtown) of concern around the national discussion about security and safety in our schools. Recently we had a burst of extraordinary hope with the example of Antoinette Tuff, a bookkeeper in an elementary school in Decatur, Georgia, who was able to avert a school shooting by using heroic courage and compassion. Ms. Tuff miraculously talked a young man in his 20s — who was diagnosed with a brain disorder — into surrendering to police after he entered the school where she was working, with a loaded AK47 and bullets flying. Antoinette Tuff inspires us all to consider the powerful role of love and compassion in creating safe and healing communities in schools.
LESSON #1
Though her grace and seemingly supernatural ability to diffuse a life-threatening situation seemed unthinkable to all of us, Ms. Tuff demonstrated powerful compassion, courage and love instinctively — as simple as the ABCs. Can it possibly be this easy?
In a few days, I will be immersed in all things mental health specifically in the areas of research and the sensitive time for the brain health of college students. I will be spending three days with mental health leaders, Elyn Saks and Patrick Kennedy at the Music Festival for Mental Health and the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy and Ethics at USC Gould School of Law. As I launch into this triple header of revolutionary lectures and events, it is poignant to reflect on the fact that the music festival was inspired by the incredible Staglin family and their profound experience with their brave and brilliant son, Brandon, who lives with schizophrenia and had his first psychotic episode when he was a student at Dartmouth.
At the Saks Institute, the day after the music festival, Patrick Kennedy will be the keynote speaker on “University Students Living with Mental Illness: Changing the Conversation.” Again, I take a moment to pause and acknowledge that Elyn Saks, the founder of the Saks Institute also had very serious struggles with her symptoms of schizophrenia during her university years.
I asked mental health expert, Ross Szabo one of our board members at the Flawless Foundation, to provide some important highlights for students and their families to think about as they make this crucial transition from high school to college. In addition to Ross’ personal experience of being treated for a brain disorder in college, he has been lecturing and consulting to universities and sororities all over the country on this delicate and often stressful time in a young person’s development.
LESSONS FROM ROSS
A. Going to college is a big change. It’s a lot of fun to meet new people and start a new phase of life. During times of change it can also be common to have some nervousness/anxiety. Talking about that with friends or family is a better way to deal with it than turning to alcohol, drugs or isolation.
B. As students adjust to college it’s a good time to think about coping. Most students didn’t sleep a lot in high school and get less sleep in college. The brain doesn’t develop until age 25. Sleep is a critical piece of being able to retain what you’re learning and succeed. Pulling all-nighters is never more effective than getting enough sleep.
C. If you’re going to college and already have a diagnosed mental health disorder, it’s vital to know what you need. Make an appointment at the counseling center or with a local mental health professional. Know whom you can call on for support. Understand your warning signs so you can seek help early. Take care of your mental health and you can have an amazing four years or however long it takes!
As we pack our new school supplies into our backpacks, let us reiterate these important lessons and make them as fundamental as the ABCs…
A. Courage, love and compassion are very powerful forces in life and in our schools. Creating caring and connected communities in our institutions is preventative medicine.
B. The brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25, so we must be aware and proactive during this period of development.
C. Don’t isolate — as challenging as it can be, we all need to stay connected to friends and family and seek help when needed!
And as Elyn Saks, Patrick Kennedy, Ross Szabo and Brandon Staglin embody so powerfully in their inspiring stories of recovery — there is always hope!
ore information on the lecture with Patrick Kennedy at the Saks Institute can be found here
