Disability Services and Mental Illness in Higher

Education

Ms. Christine Collins

Mrs. Cicely Williams

Ice Breaker

1 in 4 people in the World will be affected by mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives –

World Health Organization

“The Office of Behavioral Health is currently treating more than 43,000 adults and children with serious mental illnesses or emotional disturbances through clinics throughout the state. “ –Department of Health and Hospitals for the

State of Louisiana

STIGMA

• Social-How we may view the person with a mental illness• Can interfere with how effective we are at helping students• Can interfere with how well we explain things• Can interfere how well we treat our students• Can cause us to jump to conclusions about a person prior to giving them a chance.

• Self stigma-How the person with mental illness views themselves• Can stop the student from asking for help• Make them feel judged even when they are not.

• How do I combat stigma?• Be aware of your thoughts and actions.

dangerous

easily agitatedfragile hard to talk unpredictable

crazybrokenunhealthyattention seeking drug seeing

fragile

helpless

incapable

manipulative

De-escalation Techniquesreasoning with an enraged person, whether they have a mental illness or not, is not possible

Do THIS…• Stay calm…or at least appear that way

• Relax muscles • Be mindful of tone

• Keep hands out of pocket

• Keep a good distance from the student

• Give choices, empower student

• Listen

• Remain respectful, even if being cursed at

• Always be on the same eye level• If they sit, you sit. If they stand, you stand.

• Encourage student to sit down

NOT this• Smile

• Maintain consistent eye contact

• Point or shake finger

• Turn your back

• Be defensive• Argue• Be judgmental

• All of the above can further escalate the situation

Above all else, if you feel as though the de-escalation attempt is not working or you are in danger, STOP, get help, ask the student to leave, you leave, ask for assistance from a co-worker, or call campus security

Dealing with Suicidal Students

• How do I know?• Asses for risk of suicide

• Ask direct questions- “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”• This needs to be a direct question, do not dilute this question such as “ do you feel like hurt yourself?”• Asking this question will not push a suicidal person “over the edge” or increase their likelihood of completing suicide.

• What do I do?• 1. Make sure you are in a safe environment• 2. Stay calm, Pay attention to approach

• Listen non judgmentally• The last thing that you want to do is make them feel ashamed or self conscious about their feelings• You may be the only person that they have been able to talk to

• 3. Try not to give advise, JUST INFORMATION such as hotline numbers, local counseling agencies, on campus mental health services, etc.

• 4. Try not to leave an actively suicidal person alone• Offer them water, snacks, anything to keep them there• Have someone contact the school counselor or mental health office to come and assist you• If they insist on leaving, make sure you have their name, phone number or address so that you can request that police do a

wellness check on the student.

Students with Disabilities

• Approximately 9 percent of all students attending colleges and universities have reported they have a disability. • Nearly 1.3 million students each year.• These numbers will continue to climb as students coming out of high

school look to post-secondary education as a viable way to make a living.• About two-thirds of postsecondary students with disabilities received no

accommodations from their colleges. That was attributed in large part to the fact that about half of postsecondary students with disabilities said they do not consider themselves to have a disability, and another 7 percent acknowledged having a disability but had not told their colleges about it.

Disability laws

• Americans with Disabilities Act• Passed in 1990 and Amended in 2006• Ensures access to facilities, services, and programs

• Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitations Act of 1973• Provides for reasonable accommodations• All institutions receiving federal aid are covered under this law

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• For students K-12

• Provides success and modification

Office of Civil Rights

• Each institution should have someone designated as a Title IX and ADA coordinator.

• “SOWELA Technical Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities.”• Audits: Office setup, scholarship applications, and posting

information

Strategies for Communication Students with Disabilities

• Use person first language and refer to students with disabilities, students who are blind, etc..

• When interacting with students with disabilities, students' individuality rather than their disability, should be the focus of communication.

• Avoid using words which imply pity for students with disabilities, such as "suffering from", "victim of", "unfortunate", "afflicted with."

• Emphasize abilities, not disabilities. Say, "uses a wheelchair" rather than "cannot walk" or "confined to a wheelchair." A wheelchair provides new opportunities it does not confine.

• When describing a person without disabilities use "non-disabled" instead of "normal".

• Avoid patronizing stereotypes that imply students with disabilities are courageous in the face of adversity, patient, endowed with special gifts as compensation for their disability, or childlike.

• Speak directly to the student with the disability rather than the person who may be assisting them.

• Ridiculing a student because of a disability, either in class or one-to-one, is obviously demeaning. Equally demeaning is an attitude that is patronizing or shows fake enthusiasm for a student's contributions. Students with disabilities require the same sincerity and professionalism you would accord all students.

• Confidentiality is an important issue. When you assist a student with a disability, it is extremely important to respect that student's privacy. Do not make comments about them to other students or your colleagues.

• Do not make students with disabilities discuss their needs in front of other people.

• Keep an open mind and avoid skepticism or hostility.

Don’t Assume

• Individuals need to ask for assistance• Suggest they contact the Office of Disabilities Services • Provide information on location, phone number, etc..• Should NOT tell individuals they must speak with someone in

Disability Services unless they ask specifically for assistance in this area

Who do I call?

Mental Health Related Resources• Contact your on campus mental health center

• Contact you local behavioral health agency

• It’s recommended that employees get trained in Mental Health 1st Aid.

• National numbers to call:• The Trevor Project (for LGBT individuals in crisis): 1-866-488-

7386• “Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-

winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBT) young people ages 13-24.”

• Can text without having to call• Available on Fridays• Text the word “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)• Community Crisis centers answer Lifeline calls

• Facebook and Instagram-can report a concerning post that a student had posted and they will contact the person via email and they will give them helpful resources

• 911

Disability Services Related Questions/Resources • Contact your regional OCR

office

• Contact your college/university’s office of Disability Services

ResourcesMental Health

• Acadiana Area Human Services District 302 Dulles Drive , Lafayette, LA 70506-3008 | PH: 337.262.4190

• Capital Area Human Services District 4615 Government Street, Building 2 , Baton Rouge, LA 70806 | PH: 225.922.2700

• Central Louisiana Human Services District 401 Rainbow Drive, #35 , Pineville, LA 71360 | PH: 318.487.5191

• Florida Parishes Human Services Authority (FPHSA) 835 Pride Drive, Suite B , Hammond, LA 70401 | PH: 985.543.4333

• Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority 3505 Fifth Avenue, Suite B , Lake Charles, LA 70607 | PH: 337.475.3100

• Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority 3616 South I-10 Service Road West , Metairie, LA 70001 | PH: 504.838.5215

• Metropolitan Human Services District 1010 Common Street, Suite 600 , New Orleans, LA 70112 | PH: 504.568.3130

• Northeast Delta Human Services Authority 2513 Ferrand Street , Monroe, LA 71201 | PH: 318.362.3270

• Northwest Louisiana Human Services District 2924 Knight Street, Suite 350 , Shreveport, LA 71105 | PH: 318.862.3085

• South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority 521 Legion Avenue , Houma, LA 70364 | PH: 985. 858.2931

Disability Services• Office of Civil Rights Southwest Region - (Arkansas, Louisiana, New

Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) 1301 Young Street, Suite 1169Dallas, TX 75202, Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019Fax: (202) 619-3818 TDD: (800) 537-7697 Email: ocrmail@hhs.gov

• Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) - 107 Commerce Center Drive, Suite 204, Huntersville, NC 28078 USAPHONE: (704) 947-7779

• Louisiana Rehabilition Services: Contact your regional office

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/buzzfeed-bipolar-video_561676dbe4b0082030a149e5

Questions

Sources

• Psychology Today “Mental Health & Stigma-Mental health symptoms are still viewed as threatening and uncomfortable”

•  National Alliance on Mental Illness

• National Association of Social Workers

• Mental Health 1st Aid

• Santa Fe College Disability Resource Center

• Association on Higher Education and Disability