LU Serve’s Lynchburg 101 series brings students insight on topic of mental health

LU Serve launched the Lynchburg 101 Series to bring students expert insight into the controversial topics of the day. The first series of 2019 held of Feb. 6 discussed the topic of mental health with a panel of speakers from the School of Psychology along with representatives from Lynchburg’s Horizon Behavioral Health, located in Lynchburg.

Debra Jefferson, Horizon’s Crisis Intervention Team coordinator, defined mental health as our psychological, emotional and social well-being. The absence of how we are able to think, feel and control our emotions falls under the category of mental illness. 

According to Dr. Daniel Logan, a professor in the Liberty University School of Psychology, research shows statistics on how many adults suffer from different types of mental illness. 

“When you research the National Institution of Mental Health, you’ll find that one in five adults struggle with some type of mental illness,” Logan said. “When we are starting not to feel well with our mental health, we are moving into mental illness.”

Atang Agwe | Liberty Champion
DISCUSS  — Liberty students listen to panel discuss different types of mental illness.

The National Institution of Mental Health states that mental illness includes a variety of different conditions that vary in degree of severity. 

“What’s interesting is that one in 24 adults will struggle with a serious form of mental illness, while one in 12 will struggle from substance abuse disorder,” Logan said. “But, the most prevalent mental health challenge in our community among adults today is anxiety.” 

According to the panel of speakers, 19 percent of adults will struggle with some form of anxiety. Jefferson said as she has been teaching the topic of mental health, people often take anxiety with minimal concern. 

“Some don’t really understand how debilitating an anxiety disorder really is,” Jefferson said. “Some may not be able to function in their daily lives without proper help.”  

At Horizon, some mental health disorders are more prevalent than others. Some of the most serious reoccurring disorders within the Lynchburg area are clinical depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Jefferson and her daughter Desha Best gave students advice on how to help someone who may be severely struggling with mental illness. 

“If you see something, say something. It is all about communication,” Best said.  “It’s about loving the person enough to not be concerned about what their response may be and to listen non-judgmentally.” 

Jefferson concluded with saying people have to be okay with referring. Mental illness and addiction already have a huge stigma. It is important to believe someone when they say they have been struggling.  

“Always pay attention and have an honest conversation with your loved ones,” Jefferson said. “You always want to encourage self-help as well as the professional help needed to cure them.” 

The Lynchburg 101 series will continue throughout the spring semester, with the next event covering the topic of poverty on Feb. 19.  For more information on these public issues and where to register to attend, visit LU Serve’s website

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