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How to Find Mental Health Resources Off-Campus

• The topic I would like to explore is the lack of information surrounding mental health resources in the Duluth area. I have struggled fairly severely with my mental health and when I first came to college, I utilized the on-campus counseling services. However, they only allow 12-sessions per academic year. Starting in February, my slots were up. If I wanted to continue my therapy, I would have to search out into the Duluth community. I had absolutely no idea where to look and despite UMD’s claim to provide mental health resources to all students, I wasn’t provided with any information to seek assistance in my own healing process. It bothers me that, despite the school saying that they support students with mental illness, there isn’t enough readily-available information about comprehensive mental health services in Duluth.
• Design thinking can be used to create a unique format to distribute information regarding an in-depth presentation of mental health resources specifically for students who may lack the funds to acquire professional care at a therapists work space.
• I learned how to establish a more specified understanding of the problem I want to tackle. They asked questions to help me better understand what I intend to accomplish with my project.
• I was really inspired by the project we looked at in class about providing journalist skills to children from low-income schools. Lincoln Park Youth Voice: (Links to an external site.) I thought that it was a unique issue that took an obvious passion of the students behind the project and connected it with a prevalent issue in the Duluth community.
• The next step in my project would be to obtain as much information about my problem as possible. Ideally, I would like to speak with students who have gone through a similar struggle to me and report on how they approached the issue. I would like to speak with Disabilities services, access for all, and health services, among other social justice groups on campus. Eventually I would like to go out into the mental health community in Duluth to find resources and information through sources off-campus.
• Empathy (Links to an external site) will play a role by connecting with students who struggle with their mental health and don’t have easy-access to in-depth mental health care. There’s a lot of talk in our society these days to go out and access therapy and diminish the stigma! But right here on campus, there is a severe lack of information and resources for students who depend on therapy for stability. This project will reach out to these students by sharing the resources available for everyone.