Mental Health Q&A with Dr. Chad Kelland
By Will Edwards
Generally when people talk about taking care of your health, thoughts of eating lettuce and doing abdominal workouts to sculpt a six pack come to mind. While taking care of physical health is important to overall health, it isn’t the only thing to focus on. Mental health is an important aspect of overall health and a lot of college students struggle to adjust to the new lifestyle and stressors introduced with college life. I was able to ask Dr. Chad Kelland, a full-time clinical psychologist who works in the Student Wellness Center, a few questions about how students can take care of their mental health properly.
What is an important self care habit that you think most people neglect to incorporate?
“I think the two most important self-care habits college students and young adults neglect to incorporate are sleeping 7–9 hours/day no more, no less and not eating at least 3 significant meals a day. Sleep is the number one most important aspect of an individual’s mental health. When we don’t sleep, we get run down and leave ourselves prone to anxiety and depression. A lack of energy is a great garden for mental illness. Along that same line, if we don’t eat, we don’t have the energy we need to confront life’s daily positives and negative experiences. Often a student will come to counseling and report they are feeling depressed. After a thorough evaluation, we learn that the student hasn’t slept more than a few hours a night for many days and may only be eating once a day. We aren’t going to feel well at all if we don’t have adequate energy. A student’s role is to learn — it’s hard to be successful at learning if we aren’t well charged and rested.”
Are there any common habits that can lead to mental health issues?
Dr. Kelland listed the following;
- Negative self-talk
- Not sleeping
- Not eating
- Staying in unhealthy relationships
- Trying to be perfect
- Thinking that good enough is not enough
- Not identifying your own values and purpose
- Not having goals
- Treating yourself worse than you would treat others
- Not setting healthy boundaries
- Trying to be a super person
- Not being connected to others (relationships)
- Not taking time to enjoy the journey of life
- Not taking time to commune with aspects of your own spirituality
- Misusing substances
- Maintaining a belief that you deserve to be punished
“Longitudinal research continually highlights that at least one of the aforementioned principles will be found in over 90% of the individuals seeking mental health treatment,” Dr. Kelland says.
What are a few ways students can deal with stress in a healthy way?
“Exercise, laughing, listening to your favorite album, going for a drive, going for a walk or run, sitting outside in the sun, watching the clouds, calling an old friend, eating your favorite meal, watching your favorite movie, playing a favorite video game, making a list of what you are good at, or seeking positive feedback from friends and family are all great things you can do to alleviate stress. More importantly, recognizing that hard times pass, remembering you don’t have to be perfect, keeping up an attitude that it is okay to learn, grow, and fail, and knowing that college is about learning. It will be hard, and it takes practice to become the person you someday want to be.”
How would you go about helping a friend who is struggling?
“Listening with an empathic ear — which means trying to put yourself in their shoes, being mindful and present with them, validating their struggle, and encouraging them to seek help through counseling, therapy, their family, or an ecclesiastical leader. If they are saying things that sound distressing, serious, or dangerous — don’t simply tell them to buck up or get over it — help them get to a person who is professionally trained to help. I’d rather a friend be mad at me for getting them help than haveing a dead friend.”
If you or your friend is struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out to the Student Wellness Center. They are an awesome resource that is available, free of cost, here at Southern Virginia University. Located on the second floor of Main Hall, you can schedule an appointment by contacting the Student Wellness Center at 540–261–8474 or counseling@svu.edu.
