WEBVTT 00:03.200 --> 00:06.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% That's the focus tonight of# our series Rethinking College## 00:06.333 --> 00:11.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and our reporting on Early Warnings:# America's Youth Mental Health 00:11.066 --> 00:16.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%   We start with Yale University, which earlier# this year settled a lawsuit following the death## 00:16.300 --> 00:22.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% of a student by suicide in 2021. According to the# agreement, the university will now allow students## 00:22.600 --> 00:28.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% more flexibility to take lighter course loads and# to keep their health care while on medical leave. 00:28.800 --> 00:33.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Yale agreed to the policy after a group# of alumni and students sued the school,## 00:33.666 --> 00:38.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% arguing the policies discriminated against# students with mental health issues. 00:38.100 --> 00:42.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Willow Sylvester is a Yale graduate# who was part of that lawsuit. She## 00:42.533 --> 00:45.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% explained what things were# like before the settlement. 00:45.900 --> 00:47.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% WILLOW SYLVESTER, Former Student, Yale# University: When I started at Yale 00:47.333 --> 00:54.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I had to stop seeing my 00:54.166 --> 00:57.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%   Fa st-forward to my senior year. I was# a first-year counselor. I was working## 00:57.733 --> 01:02.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% directly with first-year students. And# almost every single one reported these## 01:02.200 --> 01:07.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% same feelings of feeling isolated on campus.# Mental Health Justice at Yale was founded in## 01:07.533 --> 01:11.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the immediate aftermath of Rachael# Shaw-Rosenbaum's passing by suicide. 01:11.666 --> 01:15.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% She was a first-year student. The# resources that she lacked and the## 01:15.500 --> 01:19.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% policies that made her feel like she didn't# have the help that she needed were very,## 01:19.733 --> 01:26.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% very clear. She had spoken publicly about feeling# this need to move down to a part-time course loa 01:26.400 --> 01:29.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and if she could just move# down to part-time courses,## 01:29.066 --> 01:33.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% she would be able to get on top of her mental# health, 01:33.733 --> 01:38.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Another thing which was also related to why# Rachael wanted to go part-time is maintaining## 01:38.600 --> 01:44.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% access to Yale's health insurance when you're# on leave or withdrawal. If she had gone home## 01:44.100 --> 01:49.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and taken a leave for her mental health, she# would lose access to her Yale health resources## 01:49.000 --> 01:53.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and also her Yale mental health resources while# she was home. And she knew that she needed those. 01:53.566 --> 01:55.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Both of those, as a result of the settlement,## 01:55.400 --> 01:58.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% are now something that students ca 01:58.766 --> 02:03.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% their Yale health insurance and students# can go down to a part-time cour 02:03.400 --> 02:09.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% We absolutely should not have had to# lose a life to get these changes rolling. 02:09.066 --> 02:13.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Last year, North Carolina# State University saw 14 student deaths,## 02:13.666 --> 02:19.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% including seven by suicide, leading to concern# and criticism about the level of student support. 02:19.766 --> 02:23.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% In a statement to the "NewsHour," North# Carolina State said it has expanded## 02:23.733 --> 02:28.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% mental health resources and access both on# campus and to the broader school community.## 02:28.866 --> 02:33.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% That includes nearly 30 more counselors# and clinical positions in recent years,## 02:33.166 --> 02:37.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% additional wellness days, greater peer# support, and new telehealth options. 02:37.600 --> 02:41.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Ireland White is a student who started# a mental health support group called the## 02:41.766 --> 02:45.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Self Love Club and wants to see even more changes. 02:45.966 --> 02:48.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% IRELAND WHITE, Student, North Carolina# State University: I started the club## 02:48.200 --> 02:55.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% in January of this year because# of the rec 02:55.133 --> 03:00.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I thought one of the easiest ways I could# give back to my community was to start a## 03:00.500 --> 03:07.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% club. We're just trying to build a community of# people who want to focus on themselves and try## 03:07.666 --> 03:14.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% to do something as a collective and create# a safe space for people on campus to talk. 03:14.100 --> 03:22.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% There's a lot of anxiety with students today# of not being cool enough, not fitting in,## 03:22.166 --> 03:27.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% not belonging. I also think that# schoolwork and just the amount of## 03:27.866 --> 03:32.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% pressure there is for deadlines in# college really contributes to this## 03:32.733 --> 03:38.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% feeling of anxiety. Not only are you missing# out socially. You're missing out academically. 03:38.000 --> 03:46.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And then there's also who's doing the best in# the class and this kind of competitive aspect## 03:46.000 --> 03:52.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that you don't even realize takes a toll on how# you feel about yourself and your self-esteem.## 03:52.166 --> 03:58.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% It was really strange to just get an e-mail# saying, like, all these students had passed away,## 03:58.666 --> 04:06.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% instead of having a big community# meeting or a community gathering,## 04:06.666 --> 04:12.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% where we could actually discuss about how we# can go about this and how people are feeling. 04:12.766 --> 04:19.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% They just kind of introduced the student mental# health task force and kind of called it a day.## 04:19.133 --> 04:24.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Doubling the amount of counselors does not# translate to people are getting more help.## 04:24.366 --> 04:28.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% No matter what you're doing on any day# of the week, State has an event that's## 04:28.466 --> 04:33.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% going on right now that you could just# go to later tonight or in the morning. 04:33.566 --> 04:37.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% There's always something going on. But there's an## 04:37.100 --> 04:42.766 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% absence of people really talking about# mental health and how it affects them. 04:42.766 --> 04:45.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Let's hear more# about what schools may need to do. 04:45.166 --> 04:51.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Dr. Jessi Gold is assistant professor of# psychi 04:51.166 --> 04:53.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Dr. Gold, what's the main thing you hear from the## 04:53.533 --> 04:56.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% students you work with in terms# of what they'r 04:56.800 --> 04:58.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD, Washington University in# St. Louis: I mean, college st 04:58.000 --> 05:01.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% always struggled. It 05:01.700 --> 05:06.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% But I see anxiety. I see depression.# College is also a time of exploration.## 05:06.066 --> 05:10.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So we say substance use. We see trouble# with concentration. And then, obviously,## 05:10.400 --> 05:14.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% all of that's compounded by all of the changes# that have happened in the pandemic and then all## 05:14.000 --> 05:17.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% of the changes that continue to happen in# the world. So it's just been really h 05:17.400 --> 05:21.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And college students feel things# and feel things really strongly. 05:21.233 --> 05:23.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Well, rates of anxiety, depression,## 05:23.266 --> 05:28.266 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% suicidal ideation on college campuses hav 05:28.266 --> 05:32.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Is this a generational thing? I mean, to your# point, there's something about attending college## 05:32.666 --> 05:38.233 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that is inherently stressful. That's always been# true. What's different about the current moment? 05:38.233 --> 05:41.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD: I wish we could pinpoint# one thing and blame that one thing,## 05:41.133 --> 05:43.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% because I know people would love to blame things## 05:43.400 --> 05:46.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% social media and say it's just social# media 05:46.733 --> 05:51.300 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And I don't think that's true. I think we# definitely can say that has to 05:51.300 --> 05:54.966 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%   be cause we didn't have social media before.# And that affects our mental health. And we're## 05:54.966 --> 05:59.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% looking at news more often, more -- and the# information we're taking in is differen 05:59.066 --> 06:01.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and the way that we're thinking# about things is different. 06:01.500 --> 06:05.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% But then there's also the way that# we are inter 06:05.333 --> 06:09.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and socializing is also different,# and there's a lot of loneliness. And## 06:09.066 --> 06:12.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that's contributing. I think that we talk# about mental health more. And, sometimes, 06:12.933 --> 06:17.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that leads to overpathologizing meaning# that we're calling things depression and## 06:17.466 --> 06:22.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% anxiety with a big D and a big A, meaning# the diagnosis, as opposed to the symptom. 06:22.366 --> 06:25.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So I think it's good that we talk about# it more, but it might mean that people## 06:25.800 --> 06:30.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% then associate with the actual diagnosis, as# opposed to just the symptoms. 06:30.133 --> 06:34.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%   in this situation where it's hard to know,# is the person just struggling with the actual## 06:34.666 --> 06:38.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% feelings or are they actually struggling# something where they need to come see me? 06:38.566 --> 06:43.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: So, what more can universities# and colleges do to address the academic pre 06:43.400 --> 06:49.033 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% the loneliness that students are feeling? Is this# a structural thing that colleges have to address? 06:49.033 --> 06:51.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD: There's definitely# structural points to it. 06:51.766 --> 06:55.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So we talk about, how is mental health# included in ever 06:55.666 --> 07:00.266 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% on in college campuses, right? So, things# leave policies, if someone's really struggling, 07:00.266 --> 07:03.733 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% how do we make sure that, when they leave,# they feel comfortable asking for help,## 07:03.733 --> 07:07.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that they feel comfortable coming back# on campus, that they're able to do tha 07:07.466 --> 07:11.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% That's really important. There's mental health# in everything that we're doing. But 07:11.333 --> 07:14.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% how do students feel comfortable talking# to faculty to begin with, to know that## 07:14.800 --> 07:17.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% those faculty feel comfortable# even talking to those students? 07:17.733 --> 07:21.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Because I see faculty too, and they don't --# they haven't had t 07:21.866 --> 07:26.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% They're not psychiatrists. And they're often# the first people that come to students. And## 07:26.000 --> 07:30.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they're supposed to support them through# their mental health experiences as coaches,## 07:30.600 --> 07:34.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% as faculty members, as administrators. And they# need the support to be able to do that too. 07:34.900 --> 07:37.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% So how do we make it easier for# faculty to talk to students,## 07:37.733 --> 07:41.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% for students to feel comfortable talking# to faculty, for them 07:41.400 --> 07:47.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% so they get seen earlier, so then they come to# me and they can talk to each other ea 07:47.066 --> 07:50.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: We have heard how# students say they want more transparency. 07:50.133 --> 07:54.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% School administrators obviously have to# abide by health privacy an 07:54.200 --> 07:58.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% laws. There might be concerns about# reputational damage to the colleges## 07:58.166 --> 08:03.500 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and universities. Some administrators have a# concern that the more they talk about suicide, 08:03.500 --> 08:09.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that that might in some ways encourage# or might lead to more deaths by suicide. 08:09.000 --> 08:11.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% How should university and college leaders,## 08:11.333 --> 08:14.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% how often should they talk about this# and ho 08:14.466 --> 08:15.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD: So there's no evidence that the## 08:15.800 --> 08:19.366 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% more we talk about thing 08:19.366 --> 08:23.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So, as a psychiatrist, we're encouraged to always# ask our patients about suicide. 08:23.533 --> 08:27.666 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% that we're going to make patients then think# about it. We don't implant those ideas. In fact,## 08:27.666 --> 08:31.866 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% we support people by asking about those# things. So it's important for college to## 08:31.866 --> 08:36.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% be a safe place to have those conversations# and for students to feel safe from the minute## 08:36.333 --> 08:40.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% they get on campus, to talk about mental# health from prevention to intervention. 08:40.333 --> 08:43.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% The only way you do that is to change the# culture of how we talk about these things.## 08:43.900 --> 08:48.066 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And you can't be scared to talk about it.# And we can't be just super reactionar 08:48.066 --> 08:52.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% where the only campuses that are doing things are# the campuses where something really bad happens 08:52.700 --> 08:55.466 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: The campuses that are# getting it right, what are they doing,## 08:55.466 --> 08:58.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the schools that help students do# their best and feel th 08:58.666 --> 09:01.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD: I wish I could# tell you there's one good example,## 09:01.133 --> 09:03.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and that that's the one to# emulate across the country 09:03.333 --> 09:06.800 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% And I don't know that we have, like, a# pe 09:06.800 --> 09:10.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% because every college is probably a# little bit different. And so I think## 09:10.333 --> 09:15.100 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% colleges need to figure out exactly what their# population wants. So, instead 09:15.100 --> 09:19.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80%   co okie-cutter mold of what everybody wants# and should be doing, we need to do that. 09:19.200 --> 09:22.000 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% I think we need to have available# resources, of course, so that,## 09:22.000 --> 09:26.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% if people need care,they can get it. But that# can't be the 09:26.166 --> 09:30.400 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% can't just say the answer is more therapists,# because you could always have more therapists,## 09:30.400 --> 09:34.333 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and people will always use more therapists,# but you will run out of that as a resource. 09:34.333 --> 09:39.166 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% So you have to start earlier with peer support,# with supporting faculty and staff and he 09:39.166 --> 09:42.933 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% students earlier, with helping students feel# comfortable talking to each other and noticing## 09:42.933 --> 09:48.200 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% signs and symptoms in themselves. That sort of# thing is really easy, and it's not th 09:48.200 --> 09:52.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% and can make pretty big changes to how we talk# to each other and how we make changes on campus. 09:52.700 --> 09:55.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Dr. Jessi Gold,# assistant professor of psychiatry## 09:55.366 --> 09:58.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% at the Washington University in# St. Louis, thanks for 09:58.366 --> 09:59.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% DR. JESSI GOLD: Thanks for having me. 09:59.066 --> 10:03.566 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOF 10:03.566 --> 10:10.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% call or text the suicide and crisis hot line# at 988. You can also visit 988lifeline.org.