Judy Esposito. Photo courtesy of the New York Times.

Cheers to the New York Times for this great article  about a triage unit for students with mental health issues at Stony Brook University.

Social worker Judy Esposito, who has experience counseling Sept. 11 widows, started the unit.

College campuses are having to help more students with mental conditions for several reasons, the article says. Medications and counseling have allowed more young people with mental illness to attend college. And there is a greater awareness of how depression, sexual abuse and other trauma can affect young people.

Esposito had to drop preparations for a Thanksgiving potluck dinner to find mental health care for a suicidal student who arrived at her office. She missed the meal but co-workers left her a plate.

“It’s kind of like firemen,” she said. “When the fire’s on, we are just at it. But once the fire’s out, we can go back to the house and eat together and laugh.”

To learn more about how social workers help people with mental health issues visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Mind and Spirit Web page by clicking here.