Madison Clary-Wortham ('16, '18 M.S.) first began taking Zoloft for anxiety when she was 11. By high school, depression had kicked in, and during her freshman year at UNT, she realized she needed to seek additional help for her mental health.
"I remember sitting in a psychology class, and I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest," she says. "That's when I had my first public anxiety attack."
Clary-Wortham's story is not an uncommon one. Generation Z in particular is one of the most stressed age groups, according to the American Psychological Association.
That's why, as the campus continues to grow, UNT is dedicated to helping students with all of the challenges that can stand in the way of mental health through resources such as the Office of Disability Access, Psychology Clinic, and Counseling and Testing Center. Click here for a full list of on-campus, online and Denton-based mental health resources.
Rebecca Werts ('13, '19 M.S.)
UNT College of Science advisor and recent graduate of UNT's mental health counseling graduate program
"I heard this analogy, and I absolutely love it: When you get sick, or you want preventative care, the first thing you do is go to your primary care physician. We do that with our physical health -- why don't we do it with our mental health?"
Rachita Sharma
Senior lecturer in UNT's College of Health and Public Service and clinical director of UNT's Wellness and Employment Learning Lab (UNTWELL)
"If you notice chronic mental health issues in a friend, try to talk to that person in a comfortable space. Being there for them in a nonjudgmental, genuinely kind way is really important."
Tamara Knapp-Grosz
Licensed psychologist and senior director of UNT's Counseling and Testing Center
"I think we are seeing a greater number of students seeking out mental health resources. One hypothesis is that we've done a great job of destigmatizing mental health treatment. In recent years, we've talked about how it is so healthy to have someone to talk to. And students took us at our word."
