St. Dymphna Mental Health

Mental health affects EVERYONE, no matter the age. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It can determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. And the demands of college can be an especially difficult time. A study in fall 2023* revealed that 56 percent of college students are experiencing chronic stress (a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time). A group of Boiler Catholics wanting to support their fellow students started the St. Dymphna ministry at St. Tom's in the fall of 2022. The group hosts fun, stress-relieving activities, invites campus counselors to the Church for visiting hours, and provides all of the mental health information available in the St. Dymphna Mental Health Resource Center, adjacent to the Newman Hall (downstairs). All are welcome to use the resources in the area. If you have specific questions or would like to join the ministry, contact one of the ministry coordinators listed on this page.  

*Flaherty, C. 2023. Student Health and Wellness Survey: The Top 10 Takeaways. Inside Higher Ed.
 

FACTS About Mental Health: Mental health problems are actually very common.**

In 2020, about:

• One in every five American adults (66 million+) experienced a mental health issue.
• One in 6 young people experienced a major depressive episode.
• One in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
• Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, it was the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10-24. It accounted for the loss of more than 45,979 American lives in 2020, nearly double the number of lives lost to homicide.

**https://www.mentalhealth.gov/