Mental Health

Mental health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".

Note: This page is still very much a work in progress.

Resources

Hotlines

These resources can be used when you need to talk to someone immediately especially when you're in crisis:

• Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL): 1-800-715-4225
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
• National Hopeline Network: 800-784-2433
• Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 800-715-4225
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
• Trevor Lifeline (targeted toward the LGBTQIA community): 866-488-7386
• Grady Rape Crisis Center: 404-616-4861
• Crisis Text Line: Text 741-741 when in crisis for a live, trained crisis counselor
• Warmlines – provide non-crisis support, often peer to peer
  • GCAL (24/7) at (800) 715-4225
  • Decatur Peer Support (24/7) at 1-866-488-7386
• Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) App

GT CARE

Before you're able to access the on-campus Counseling Center or Stamps Psychiatry, you'd have to go to CARE for a primary assessment and referral. Afaik you'll discuss what's been bothering you, and they'll recommend on-campus and/or off-campus resources to you. TODO

Counseling

On-campus Georgia Tech counseling: https://counseling.gatech.edu/. Before going to on-campus counseling, you have to first get a referral from GT CARE.

If you have health insurance, you may be able to have access to free off-campus counseling.

Low-cost off-campus counseling:

• Mercer Family Therapy Center
  • 1938 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 107 Atlanta GA, 30309
  • 678-547-6789
  • https://medicine.mercer.edu/mftc/
  • Per-session fees range from $5 to $65 depending on income.
• Samaritan Counseling Center of Atlanta
  • 1328 Peachtree St. NE, Suite B317 Atlanta, GA 30309-3902
  • (404) 228-7777
  • http://samaritanatlanta.org/
  • Income-based sliding scale fees, with a minimum per-session fee of $25
• Metropolitan Counseling Services
  • 2801 Buford Hwy NE, Suite 470, Atlanta, GA 30329
  • 404-321-1794
  • http://www.mcsatlanta.org/about-us
  • Income-based sliding scale fees, with $40 initial charge for an intake assessment

There are probably a lot more counseling options which can be suggested by CARE.

Psychiatry

TODO: define psychiatry

On-campus psychiatry: https://health.gatech.edu/services/psych

Note: A general practitioner / family doctor can also prescribe things like antidepressants—not only psychiatrists. But you may want to turn to a psychiatrist if you need to fiddle some more with your medication, since they specialize in it more deeply.

Peer coaching

https://counseling.gatech.edu/content/peer-coaching

List of resource lists

• https://www.sga.gatech.edu/new-student-tips/
• http://www.mhsc.gtorg.gatech.edu/resources/

Mental illness diagnostic criteria

Sometimes if you have a mental illness, you might not even realize that what you're feeling is clinically significant and something you should seek help for. (That's not to say that everyone who doesn't have a clinically significant mental illness can't benefit from things like therapy or extra support, though.)

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses among college students, so this section will focus on those two.

This info is just to provide a guide; for an actual diagnosis, you'd have to see a trained professional.

Generalized anxiety disorder

DSM-5 criteria (paraphrased by Wikipedia):

1. "Excessive anxiety or worry" experienced most days over at least six month and which involve a plurality of concerns.
2. Inability to manage worry.
3. At least three of the following occur:
   1. Restlessness
   2. Fatigability
   3. Problems concentrating
   4. Irritability
   5. Muscle tension
   6. Difficulty with sleep Note that in children, only one of the above items is required.
4. One experiences significant distress in functioning (e.g., work, school, social life).
5. Symptoms are not due to a substance use disorder, prescription medication or other medical condition(s).
6. Symptoms do not fit better with another psychiatric condition such as panic disorder.

Ally resources

Clubs

• http://www.mhsc.gtorg.gatech.edu/
• https://gatech.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/towriteloveonherarms
• https://gatech.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/active-minds

QPR training: https://endsuicide.gatech.edu/content/qpr-training-0