WVU Potomac State College held a Women’s Mental Health Symposium recently as a way to support the campus community. Coordinated by Michelle House, behavioral health therapist, the panel was comprised of female instructors and staff members of PSC who were willing to share stories of their own issues and struggles with mental health.
“Humans are social creatures,” House said. “We need to be social. We are living in a time, though, when we are more plugged in than ever. But no phone or AI companionship can replace real human relationships and real human interactions. And that is what events like this are about.”
The panel consisted of House as moderator, Michele Labar, Abby Shillingburg, Melissa Dayton, Sarah Cross, Kara Hotchkiss, Andrea Schafer, and Trina Runner.
“A lot of times when women go to the doctor, we are dismissed that we are overreacting,” said House. “There have been so many movements over the years to correct that, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Women’s mental health naturally evolves and is a vital part of overall well-being. Women can be under a great deal of stress and anxiety with societal pressures, family and work obligations, aging parents, deadlines, and the kids’ schedule that has them running from soccer practice to band rehearsal in two different directions at the same time. Factor in their own personal and professional goals, objectives, and their own need to be happy and feel content, and it’s little surprise then that some days feel “too much.”
“Many women face challenges such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder,” said House. “It’s important to recognize these struggles and understand that support is available. Women don’t have to face these challenges alone.”
House said she felt inspired to pull a panel discussion together. She said the more a topic can be discussed, the less a stigma is attached to it.
“I honestly think it’s healing to have these kinds of events and these kinds of conversations.”
During the panel discussion, each participant told her own story of her personal mental health journey, offering tips and advice to those in the audience.
Some of the topics included battling depression, living with bipolar disorders, ADHD, general anxiety, childhood traumas, the value of therapy, abuse, postpartum issues, prescription medication, grief, impostor syndrome, and the need to set boundaries. Each woman on the panel told her own story and shared her own reflections; sometimes through tears and sometimes using humor.
“I tend to use humor as my therapy,” said Schafer. “I am a child of the 70s, and in the 70s, there was no such thing as mental health awareness. I use humor now to get through everything. And I just keep reminding myself- there is no such thing as normal.”
Labar said stress is always going to be a part of life. It’s how a person handles it and can manage it that is imperative.
“Things in life are going to cause anxiety. You can’t get away from it,” she said. “For crying out loud, we live in the United States right now. So, there are always going to be things that trigger us.”
Runner encouraged women in the audience inside Academy Hall, where the event took place, to celebrate their own individuality.
“I give myself permission to feel what I feel, and I am now more transparent with people,” she said. “Always lead with curiosity and compassion, and that begins with yourself.”
Runner said she found a change of mindset and a new enlightened path to her own journey.
“You have to allow yourself to unlearn some things, “she said. “You can change your life by unlearning things and not repeating patterns in your life that no longer make sense for you. Life comes in cycles, and coming out of those cycles, your perspective will change. You will learn so much about yourself.”
According to a 2024 report issued by the National Institute of Health, twice as many women experience depression at some point in their lives as men. Gender, genetic, social, and economic differences all play a role in the development of depression in women. Major depressive disorder accounts for a significant amount of disability worldwide. Depressive disorders account for more than 40% of disability from mental health disorders in women. In men, they account for just under 30% of disability.
Anxiety is another quite common mental health issue—one that women are twice as likely to experience as men. That said, women are more likely to seek help for anxiety than men. This may contribute to a higher diagnosis rate in women.
House reminded those on the panel and those in attendance that to “feel is human.”
“It’s how we deal with it and cope with it that matters,” she said. “To have mental health issues is part of the human experience. Not only in this life are we dealing with our mental health issues, but we are also reacting and responding to the mental health issues of those around us. The important thing is to realize these are human things. And we are all human.”
Common Mental Health Symptoms in Women
If any of these symptoms appear, talk with a health care provider about treatment options:
· Feeling sad or hopeless often
· Mood, energy, or appetite changes
· Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
· Low energy or tiredness
· Worrying too much or feeling fearful
· Anger or irritability
· Headaches, body aches, or stomach problems
· Using alcohol or other drugs to cope
· Distancing from friends or family members
· Thoughts of death or self-harm
There are also daily tips women can follow to support their mental health. However, it's important to remember that everyone's journey is unique, and challenges may persist.
Explore these tips
· Get regular exercise (aim for 30 minutes most days)
· Eat healthful foods and drink plenty of water
· Limit caffeine and alcohol
· Keep a regular sleep schedule
· Keep a gratitude journal
· Try a calming activity such as meditation or deep breathing
· Spend time with loved ones and stay connected socially
· Set realistic goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed
Key Areas of Awareness
· Hormonal Milestones: Mental health is heavily impacted by hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
· Unique Stressors: Women often face higher rates of stress due to caregiving duties, unequal household labor, career pressure, and gender discrimination.
· Specific Conditions: Women are more prone to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation.
To protect their mental and physical health, women should:
· Set boundaries and make time for themselves
· Build a support network of family members, friends, and other caregivers
· Stay physically active and maintain a balanced diet
· Take care of their own mental and physical health by seeing a mental health professional and/or another health care provider
· Ask for and accept help when needed
The Mental Health and Counseling Services Center offers individual and group therapy as well as across-campus programs, activities, and initiatives that seek to promote mental health awareness and destigmatize mental illness. WVU Potomac State College also has trained counselors available 24 hours a day if things feel urgent. Those counselors can be reached by texting WVU to 741741 or by calling 304-788-6977. Michelle House, behavioral health therapist, MSW, can be reached directly at mahouse@mail.wvu.edu or by calling 304-788-6976.