NAMI-GC College Outreach Program
Questions about NCCOP? Want to help? Contact nccop@namigc.org.
For more information, referrals, support, and education about serious mental illness, call NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445, or visit the NAMI of Greater Chicago website, namigc.org.
In college, friendships mean more than ever before. Many people move away from home and their old support networks, and friends and roommates become like family. Friends and roommates are thus uniquely situated to recognize warning signs of mental illness and to do something about it.
Identifying the existence of a mental illness may be difficult at first, either because the behavior has changed slowly over time, or because you may be unaware of what defines or is a sign of mental illness, or you may not know how to approach the issue, or how to start seeking help.
An important thing to remember is that mental illnesses are like any physical illnesses that affect a body's organs; mental illnesses simply affect the brain, which affects a person’s moods, thoughts or behaviors. If your friend broke his/her leg, you would call 911—if your friend starts experiencing symptoms you do not understand, or are learning may be symptoms of mental illness, you need to contact people who can help your friend: mental health professionals, your friends’ family, campus administrators, etc.
Everyone may show some symptoms briefly from time to time in response to stressful life events. If the symptoms you are noticing are impairing your friend’s ability to lead a satisfying and productive life, then approach your friend, let them know you are concerned, and contact a mental health professional immediately. Your suggestion to consider counseling can be very influential for your friend and may help them get the help they need sooner, which is very important in getting your friend the best treatment as soon as possible.
Keep in mind, even if a problem goes away, it could recur: symptoms of mental illnesses are often cyclical, varying in severity over time. Also keep in mind that while only a doctor can properly diagnose a mental illness, what you know about what’s been going on with a friend is valuable—while a doctor may not be able to share information about your friend with you, there is no law that says you cannot share information with that doctor, other mental health professionals, or other administrators on campus. It is more important for your friend to receive help, than for you to keep a secret that may be greatly hurting your friend’s life—and yours—in the long run.
Also remember that your friend’s reactions to your suggestions for them to seek help may not be followed. Do all you can, but realize that many symptoms of mental illnesses make it even harder for people to seek help. Your trying to get them help, however, can help them get the treatment they need sooner, rather than later, and even if they are not open to it—it’s important to try and share what you know.
Chicago-area Support Groups for Family Members, Friends, and Consumers of Mental Health Services