Should you go to CAPS?

The issue of an individual’s mental health is not only a complex one, but it can be a rather sensitive topic to address with a friend or significant other. Unlike with physical well-being, mental health research and awareness have been evolving slowly. It was not until 1973 that the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the largest psychiatric organization in the world, removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses.

Although strides have been made in the realm of mental health, there is still a prevailing stigma surrounding the subject. Jokes about suicide are unfortunately pretty common, but the people who indulge in such dark humor are the same people who are incapable of having real conversations about this subject. They will go as far as to claim that joking about mental health is their way of coping; this, however, fails to account for how other people will interpret the joke.

All of the preceding factors, coupled with a lack of awareness and cultural and religious impediments, make the answer to the question “Should I go to CAPS?” that much harder to answer. On their website, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) lists a number of symptoms associated with depression. However, one cannot simply self-diagnose or seek other people’s assessments as they are not medically licensed professionals.

So, no, your friends and loved ones should not be the ultimate deciding factor when attempting to answer this onerous question. For the intent and purpose of this article, I will be only covering depression, but it is worth noting that there is a multitude of other mental illnesses.

Presented with the following hypothetical scenario, how many of us would deem it necessary to go to CAPS? Person X stopped going to their classes, they cancelled a movie plan with friends, and they only eat prepackaged snacks. Three different observers may not see the full picture because they do not have all the information and therefore will fail to recognize that this person may need help. In this instance, the individual that can most professionally address the situation is a faculty member, assuming they take attendance, who sends a brief email checking up on Person X.

After a week has elapsed, the symptoms experienced by Person X are starting to become more apparent, so their roommate decides to invite them out for some fresh air and coffee in an effort to cheer them up. After doing so, their roommate is not entirely certain that Person X is in dire need of professional help as they were able to socialize normally again, if for a small duration of time.

What many of us fail to recognize is that there are many different types of depression, which may share several symptoms but last for variable amounts of time. Consequently, an acquaintance who does not have all the pieces of the puzzle may not realize that Person X, although they went on a coffee date with their roommate, now has trouble sleeping and overcompensates by drinking energy drinks.

The bottom line is if you are in a bad place, the most detrimental action you can take is inaction. Moreover, convincing yourself that your situation is not ‘that bad’ compared to other people’s is one of the worst approaches towards mental health. Additionally, waiting for others to take notice of your symptoms and push you to seek therapy or counseling can also be ineffective, especially in light of the stigma surrounding this topic.

At this point, you are probably still wondering, “So, should I go to CAPS?” Unfortunately, there is no concrete method to arrive at this answer, but if you find yourself questioning whether you should be going then that should be an indicator. Sometimes all it takes is admitting that the feelings you are currently experiencing are uncomfortable and unfamiliar and unpacking it with a professional would not hurt. If going to CAPS proves to be injudicious then no one ever needs to find out about it. On the other hand, if the experience provides you with new insights or alleviates some of your negative feelings, then perhaps you will be able to get the proper medication or simply have someone to vent to without fear of judgement.