THE SUMMIT
COVER STORY
you have identified the source of stress, the stressor. Identifying a stressor is not always a straightforward process and help in doing so is often necessary, whether that is from a trusted confidant, a professor, or a professional mental health provider. Once identified, it is not necessarily easy to take the needed disciplined, practical approach to elimi- nating the stressor. For instance, finan- cial stressors are common; the discipline required to manage desires that lead to spending does not come easily. In some instances, rather that tackling those de- sires, it is easier to target “anxiety,” one of the more frequent manifestations of stress. Nonetheless, personally address- ing such stressors in a disciplined and consistent way yields results. In other instances, the source of stress is more complex or camouflaged in our psyche. Professional intervention is more likely to be needed in these cases. At any rate, treatments can span self-help lifestyle and behavioral measures, to medications, to professional application of therapies. Relaxation, mindfulness, spiritual enrichment, exercise, quality relationships, and intellectual pursuits can be beneficial in managing stress and often can be accomplished in a self- help fashion or can be professionally directed.” Questions regarding student ath- lete pressures were highlighted by Dr. Wortham, yielding refreshing perspec- tives and ideas. He thinks the greatest pressure for the student athlete is to achieve the high yield goal of a quality education while enduring the pressures of being a prized entertainer. Those par- ticipating in the big four or five sports, where professional careers are possible, must learn to manage their personal resources, including their athletic talent, considering the larger possibility that there will be no professional career. This is a conundrum in that “giving (the sport) your all” could compromise aca- demic goals. There is the harsh reality that the university, including its boost- ers, students, administrators, and often faculty, is mainly invested in the enter- tainment value of the student/athlete.
Setting personal goals along the continu- um of “pure athlete” to “pure academic” is helpful. Being flexible in reassessing goals is necessary. There can be little regret when one works wholeheartedly to achieve goals, maintains confidence that decisions made further goals, and understands that rethinking and resetting goals is a life-long project.” Black versus White Mental Health created significant opportunity for exchange and dialogue between the panelists and the undergraduate cohort of more than 215 students. Dr. Wortham championed that “any Black person engaging health care, including mental health care, should feel empowered to explore the impact of race on his health. American medicine, like America, is tainted by historical and ongoing racism. Psychiatry has not been spared. There was general belief that Blacks were not amenable to certain psychiatric treat- ments because of not having a “mind” or, more specifically, not having the capac- ity for insight. Misdiagnosis towards psychotic disorder is well-documented. Some of the mental health unmet need and disparity hurting Blacks can be traced to these realities. At the same time, Black people need and benefit from psychiatric care. Blacks, like in other areas of life, must be very active partici-
pants in their care, advocates. We must equip ourselves with as much knowledge about mental illness as we can. This is not different from other groups. Useful also, and unique to Blacks, is the role played in broadening our knowledge of our history and culture. To do so, Dr. Wortham champions the arguments made by Dr. Joy DeGruy in her book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. She explains how slavery has influenced our mental health and outlines healing measures based on strengths among Blacks. Strong self-advocacy and greater understanding of the unique influences on our collective psyche must be central in improving Black mental health.” The extensive conversation, discourse and interaction between & amongst pan- elists and undergraduate members also generated inquiry pertaining to effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health. Dr. Wortham posited that, “There is so much co-morbidity between mental illness and substance use disorders--cigarette smok- ing and schizophrenia, cannabis abuse and psychosis or amotivation, alcoholism and cognitive deficits, bipolar affective disorder and stimulant abuse only begin to list the many combinations. There are ironies such as individuals 'preferring' to display the dysfunctions of substance use disorder rather than being diagnosed
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