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Going to a Psychiatric Hospital Saved My Life and My Student Affairs Career
Wilson, Jo
Wilson, Jo
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Abstract
The ongoing mental health crisis for college students has been a notable topic in recent years and while a necessary conversation, this often overlooks an underlying mental health crisis for higher education staff and the connection between both crises. As a former mentally ill graduate student and now (still) mentally ill student affairs practitioner, the connection is clear and a conversation now is critical. Using my personal narrative as a current practitioner, self authorship, and disability theory intersections, I am using this piece as a counternarrative and interruption to traditional student and staff development. Lastly, I seek to encourage a view of personal development as nonlinear, and even sometimes circular, and to challenge ableist notions of ‘professionalism’ for fellow staff with mental illnesses.
Description
Content Warning: Mental health, gender identity, mention of police and psychiatric hospital staff
Dedication
This piece is dedicated to the following people:
To the amazing faculty of the UVM HESA program who worked with me at this tumultuous and critical point in my life (most notably Drs. Tiffanie Spencer, Tracy Arámbula Turner and Jason Garvey)—you taught me there is always a community to support in times of crisis and that there is no shame in advocating for yourself.
My practicum supervisor, Catarina Campbell (HESA alumnx, 2015), who taught and reinforced in me that rest and self-wellness is a radical and liberatory act–even in a more “progressive” field–and a passion to help and support others (especially myself).
My HESA cohort (class of 2021) — I absolutely could not have made it through this chapter of my life without your support.
And absolutely the most important, younger Jo in 2020. The decision you are making may seem terrifying and you may regret it at some points…but you will be alive and so proud that you did make it years later.
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Date
2023-04-05