Manizha Nazari and Yaritza Garcia, “Breaking the Silence: Creating a Program to Reduce Stigmatization and Normalize Conversations about Mental Health among First-Generation College Students”
Mentor: Rose Hennessy Garza, Public Health, Public Health (Joseph J. Zilber School of)
Poster #63
Mental health among first generation college students relates to the emotional and psychological wellness of the students who are the very first member of their family to enroll in college. First-generation college students often face unique challenges that impact their mental health, including cultural and academic expectations, financial struggles, family expectations and responsibilities, and lack of mental health resources. In many minority communities, mental health is heavily stigmatized, which creates barriers and discourages students from seeking the support they need. Mental health challenges include anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD, and imposter syndrome. Other findings show that first generation college students often view mental health struggles as a personal weakness rather than a common challenge, which make them less likely to seek support. This project will aim to create a hypothetical program to address mental health needs among first generation students. Intervention Mapping is a program planning process and will be used to identify risk and protective factors of mental health in first generation students, find evidence-based strategies, and create a logic model to link activities to proposed outcomes. The goal of the program is to create a better marketing and communication plan that promotes open discussions about mental health and helps in identifying any barriers. By creating a program plan that normalizes open dialogue about mental health, this program aims to help first-generation college students access the support they need for a better college experience. When first-generation students thrive, they not only promote their individual growth but also strengthen the entire community, promoting a future in which many diverse perspectives contribute to significant advancements and improve everyone’s public health outcomes.