A Thing or Two about Psychological Wellness at U-M

In summer 2016, the 13-year-old Lori Mae Hernandez received a standing ovation for her stand-up comedy act. Her prime joke was about her babysitting qualifications. She said, “My only qualification to be a babysitter is that I used to be a baby.” By the same token, my only qualification to write about mental health is that I struggled with a number of mental health problems as an international student here at the University of Michigan, particularly in the beginning of my study. After all, there is no formula and every person is different when it comes to mental health. By way of a working definition, according to U-M’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), “Wellness is a proactive and positive approach to living that increases resiliency to stress by promoting life balance and contentment.”

Having stated my confession, and established what psychological well being entails, I would like to share a couple of related tips that might benefit new international students.

Find a support community that suits you

Despite the incredible number of student organizations on campus (please check the Maize Pages for complete directory or International Student Associations for special interest), it may not always be easy to find a support community that matches your particular needs. Be patient and stay open-minded; there are always your “soul mate” communities to grow together.

Coming from Africa, a region least represented both at the University and the US, finding a community to call my own was not always easy; needless to say, having a considerable population on campus does not automatically guarantee a support community. However, making friends and volunteering for the causes of others, such as those who experience social injustice and individual prejudiced, provided me with an enormous source of comfort, sense of solidarity, and an opportunity to learn coupe up mechanisms that could be applied to my particular situations.

One example: I get such support from the place I least expected was Muslim students “Friday Prayer” (Salāt Al-Jumu'ah) congregation. Even though I was not a follower of the religion, the friendships and the stories I shared with them, especially the challenges of the community faced during the past political season had such a profound effect on my mental health and even for my academic success. As the old scripture says, “Help comes from unexpected places.”

Explore the resources on campus

The University of Michigan is committed to advancing the mental health and wellbeing of its students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of support, services are available. (Paul Conway, SI 678)

This text is an excerpt from one of the most exciting and challenging courses I took, with an 18-pages-long syllabus, under a title, “Student Mental Health and Wellbeing.” Mental health problems could have different sources including physiological, psychological, substance abuse, sociocultural, academic, linguistic, financial and the like. Here is another example from my story on how such holistic approach worked for me.

In my very first year, following my 3 weeks hospitalization for an Anxiety Disorder/Panic Attack, I adopted an adorable emotional support dog (Bella) from the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Moving back to my off- campus house, the landlord refused to let me bring my dog, and I had to stay in a motel for 2 weeks which was far away from campus in the harsh Midwest Winter. Especially for a new-comer from the most tropic area of the globe, I had been stunned by the strange land already and suffered from a dread of relapsing for several weeks.

Long story short, the Student Legal Services stepped in and not only resolved, but also started processing to press charges. They would have followed through with the charges against my landlord had I not asked them to stop the process. I rather took a semester of leave of academic absence and go home to my family in Ethiopia. This was made possible with the generous support from the Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Funds, and Center for the Education of Women (CEW+), which supports all non-traditional students, regardless of gender identity. Another example of less popular but essential resources resource for international students could be the International Student Lunch Conversation which is cosponsored by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). My honorable mention includes: The Wellness Zone, Sleep Disorders Centers, and Mental Health Work Group - University of Michigan(MHWG).

In closing, the moral of my stories is that, even though I am a believer in human agency or the notion of personal responsibility in shaping one's own world, I have learned to appreciate more the support I have had from families, friends, mentors, institutions, and even strangers to emerge from my psychological problems I have struggled with for years. I wouldn’t be able to tell my stories today if it was not for the help of the individuals and communities that were instrumental in transforming my unfortunate circumstances to a happy ending. So, my advice for my fellow international students is, it has never be wise to fight a battle only on your own--especially while you have a range resource at your disposal not only to survive but also to thrive at U of M.

True psychological wellbeing is an ongoing, ever changing process that is unique for each individual. (CAPS)

Written by Simeneh Gebremariam
International Center Summer Orientation Peer Adviser

Graduate Student

Ethiopia