When Jake Griffin’s brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, he felt a wave of relief.
This relief didn’t come from his brother having a mental illness, but from the diagnosis that explained some of his brother’s bizarre behavior.
Shawn Griffin experienced severe mood swings, and his relationship was straining with the family, Jake said.
In addition, Jake said Shawn would stare at a television with no picture, gazing into the static.
And with this information, his family and a psychiatrist could work with him to get his life back on track.
Jake is the president and founder of the Ball State chapter of Active Minds, a national student group based in Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to bringing awareness of mental health issues to college campuses.
“I was inspired to start Active Minds at Ball State ... because as a freshman last year, I realized there were really no clubs that addressed issues like this,” Jake said.
Jake, a sophomore telecommunications major, said Ball State’s chapter of Active Minds was first recognized as an official school club during the summer.
Jake Griffin, a sophomore telecommunications major, is the president and founder of the Ball State chapter of Active Minds. Active Minds is dedicated to bringing awareness of mental health issues to college campuses. PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAKE GRIFFIN
According to a 2013 report from the National College Health Association, about 30 percent of students said they felt depressed to the point that they could barely function at least once in the previous 12 months.
They also stated about 25 percent of college students have been treated for or diagnosed with a mental illness in the past year.
With these numbers, Jake said it’s important for students to be aware of mental health issues and the resources that Ball State has to offer.
“There’s a stigma that goes with mental illness,” Jake said. “Some people tell those with mental illnesses that they can remedy the issue with sheer willpower alone. That’s not the case.”
Support from family and a psychiatrist helped Shawn raise his level of happiness, Jake said, and headded that the brothers’ relationship couldn’t be any better.
June Payne, director of counseling and health services at Ball State, said a variety of treatments can be used for mental illness depending on the case, but the Ball State Counseling Center is a good place for students to start.
“Sometimes new experiences, like college, do cause students to feel much more stress than they usually deal with,” Payne said. “We want students to know that they can feel comfortable visiting the counseling center if they have an issue.”
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the suicide rate of college students is seven out of every 100,000. It cites suicide as the second leading cause of death among college students.
Payne said the recent death of Robin Williams can be used as a means to shed more light onto the mental health issue and the issue of suicide.
“Personally, I find [his death] very tragic,” Payne said. “But hopefully it will bring some meaning and a purpose, and hopefully bring more advocacy and treatment for people dealing with these things.”
With a group like Active Minds on campus, Payne said she thinks Ball State is heading in the right direction on addressing mental health issues.
The toughest challenge that Active Minds will face is combating language that is insensitive to mental health issues, Jake said.
“Even though we’re a socially aware campus, you hear things like ‘she’s so bipolar.’ And I hear a suicide joke daily,” Jake said. “I want to destroy that language. Some people are unaware of how hurtful that language can be.”
Currently, the group has around 30 members, Jake said.
Active Minds will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center. The first meeting will occur on Aug. 27.
For students seeking help, the Ball State Counseling Center is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can set up appointments by calling or visiting the center at Lucina Hall room 320 or calling 765-285-1736.
The center also provides after-hours emergency help at 765-747-7330.
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