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By: Anastacia Lee, MPH, Office of Health Promotion

July has been designated as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month since 2008, and to many it is known as BIPOC Mental Health Month. BIPOC Mental Health Month was specifically created to highlight the struggles that systemically underrepresented groups face when seeking care for their mental illness. Cultural stigmas, lack of recognition of what counts as mental health, and little confidence or representation among mental health professionals can all contribute to the challenges of various groups. Many of our students will grapple with these attitudes and behaviors as they transition through their college years and grow into their many social identities. Summer break is the perfect time to start talking with your student about establishing what their barriers may be when they talk about mental health or want to seek care for inevitable stressors. While we have many other months like Mental Wellness Month (Jan) and Mental Health Month (May), we want to invite our students to embody Gonzaga's mission toward holistic health, in a way that honors the dignity and cultural identities of each person.

Tip 1: Establish care before your student comes to campus.

Although we have clinical counselors and non-clinical case managers on-campus for our students, setting up regular care through a primary care physician can help ensure that your student can proactively manage stress as they journey through the academic year. This also allows your student to find someone that they feel most comfortable talking to, who is affirming of their identities and their fears.

Tip 2: Familiarize yourself with on-campus resources.

We recommend visiting this link to familiarize yourself and your student with what is available at Gonzaga. Students have also benefited from the Office of Health Promotion’s Wellness Toolbox, which helps them navigate their health and well-being through a variety of topics. Topics in the Toolbox also include useful apps that your student can download to give them more agency over their health concerns.

Tip 3: Start destigmatizing mental health at home.

The majority of our students are going to feel at least one symptom of mental illness during the academic year. They may talk about burnout, stress, not sleeping well, or issues with their peers, but these all have some roots in mental health. Encourage open conversations with your student now so that they have healthy habits built up when they feel more stressed throughout the school year. Support systems are crucial in proactively preventing crises due to stress, depression, and/or anxiety.

Be on the lookout for more information coming soon about after-hours mental health resources available for your Zag! We hope you enjoy the rest of this summer break and we look forward to seeing many of you in August!