Mental Health Care in Three Types of Professions
Written by: Jaqueline Clark, Student Assistant for Career Development
Mental health maintenance is a topic that college students know all too well. Our faculty members acknowledged this topic as they advanced in their professional journeys. To learn their advice about mental health care, listen to the stories from our three professors: Dr. Erin Williams-Hatala, the Program Coordinator for the Biological Sciences and the Associate Professor for Biology; Dr. Christine Sarteschi, the Professor of Social Work and Criminology; and Professor Sara Bauknecht, the Assistant Professor in Communications.
Doctor Erin Williams-Hatala
Dr. Williams-Hatala described her professional journey as “
non-linear”. As an undergraduate, she studied Anthropology and Archaeology at Grinnell College in Iowa. Afterwards, she applied to various law school until she realized that she wanted to be a scientist. When asked about her change of direction, she explained that it was an activity that she liked. “I like archaeology, early technologies, and anatomy. I realize that I’m a fairly happy person and can be happy doing a variety of things,” she said. With this goal in mind, she obtained her Master’s of Arts in Anthropology, and a Master’s of Science and PHD in Hominid Paleobiology at George Washington University in Washington D.C.
During this time, she discussed the stresses that she underwent. “I was working 50 hours/week my first year of gradate school and sleeping literally every other night to fit it all in”, she said. Dr. Williams-Hatala also shared that she was not funded for her academic pursuits, which strained the money to obtain food. Despite the stresses, she considered it a joyful because it was exciting and she was eager to fulfill her goals.
To manage her stress then and now, she limits media or conversations that are negative. For example, she avoids reading the news and instead reads topics about culture or science. Also, she emphasized for students to pursue skills or activities that will manage their stress. “Stress will always be present,” she said, “and you have to find the skills manage you to function through it.” For instance, Dr. Williams-Hatala takes time to read science fiction, zombie, and apocalypse novels or novels about community like Deacon King Kong. She also takes CBD gummies to relax when needed. Other advice she shared for students was to say no to requests when need and to ask for a friend’s assistance during difficult times.
Doctor Christine Sarteschi
At first, Dr. Sarteschi did not have an intention to get involved in criminology or human behavior. She attended community college to study psychology, but she changed her focus to social work when meeting psychology professors with social work experience. So, she transferred to the University of Pittsburgh where she obtained her PhD in Social Work. During this time, she took internships that exposed the intersection between community mental health and the criminal justice system. “My first internship was at the Community Mental Health and Psychiatric Hospital in Bloomfield,” she explained, “and I had to learn skills without assistance when managing with individuals who were intoxicated or delusional”. She also procured an internship in which she visited people’s home during crises calls. Over time, this developed her desire to help individuals with mental illness, especially those with severe mental illness and involved in the criminal justice system. During her graduate year, she was involved in research internships about therapy and the intersection between the criminal justice system and mental illness.
Due to this desire to bridge the gap of knowledge between mental health and the criminal justice system, she introduced the idea of Forensic Social Work in the Social Work department. “This is an attempt to address the important issues but also enhance the job prospects of graduates as they enter the workforce,” she explained. Later on in her professional journey, she focused her research extremist groups and extreme violent crime. She described the stresses that occur in her work. For example, she said that her focus on certain extremist groups can make her a target of criticism. So, she has to be aware of her personal safety. As a researcher, there seems to be a constant stress.“You have to keep publishing working consistently to keep your job. So, it can feel like you have homework all the time,” said Dr. Sarteschi.
However, there are times when things become overwhelming. In those scenarios, Dr. Sarteschi emphasized the importance of time management. “Those who study this area have a built-in tolerance to those topics,” she said, “but you must have a balance.” She said, for example, that there should be scheduled breaks to exercise, watch tv, or other hobbies. It also can extend into the basic necessities like getting quality sleep and eating a balanced diet regularly. Other tips Dr. Sarteschi suggested minimizing exposure to distressing topics. It not only helps to set boundaries between her work but also reduce the likelihood of desensitization to the world. A final piece of advice Dr. Sarteschi offered was finding a support system. “I had dreams about one case, ”she explained, “and I realized that it was too much.” Having the presence of her family and friends was helpful,” she added. Other options that she suggested were mental health hotlines, counseling centers, peer support groups, or even academic advisors. “Your well-being is the highest priority, and the willingness to reach out for helps is an essential step towards maintaining positive mental health,” she shared.
Professor Sara Bauknecht
From creating her own fake broadcast channel as a child to editor of her high school’s year book, Professor Sara Bauknecht’s passion for media was evident. Pursuing her B.A. in Communication Arts, with minors in Creative Writing & Theater, from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, she obtained internships with the Montell Williams Show, Conde Nast, and she worked in publsihing for the Penguin Group (Viking Press) and CVS. These experiences developed her interest in the news, which contributed to her decision of working with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from 2009 to 2022. During her time there, she was an online editor, social media content creator, a lifestyle editor, and a dance writer to connect with her roots to dance. “I really enjoyed telling the stories of the people of Pittsburgh in a multiplatform way”, shared Professor Bauknecht. Also, she obtained her M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication at Point Park University. Currently, she is working with her business partner on a strategic consultation work to share stories about non-profits and small organizations in the Pittsburgh community.
Professor Bauknect shared the struggles that herself and other journalist endured in media. She described the 24/7 work with the multiple deadlines she needed to complete, which required working from 9 AM to 5 PM— or until 2 AM. The constant changing of the schedule impacts mental and physical health since it causes changes to eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns. Professor Bauknecht also described the extreme competition in this industry, and it becomes difficult to not conflate one’s personal identity to their professional identity. Consequently, other who work in media may not respect personal boundaries like when someone is having a tough day. Other stressors were grief and depression from certain stories you come into contact with and exposure in the public eye can lead to criticism or cruelty.
To maintain her boundaries between her personal and professional life, Professor Bauknecht advocates for herself, which she encouraged students to do as well. “You must recognize personal and professional boundaries and speak up when you need time off because you need your physical and mental health,” she shared. “If you don’t have that, then it is okay that it [this working environment] is not working for you.” Professor Bauknecht also shared that distancing one’s self from work helps to manage the overwhelming feelings especially from new’s topics. “I have heard from people that they simply take a shower to rid the day,” said Bauknecht, “or using the five senses to be mindful and do yoga.” Regarding outside commentary, she said to avoid internalizing the harsh ones and focus or learn from the criticisms to improve her writing. Another piece of advice for students was finding a mentor because they can be a sounding board when trying to navigate your options during a difficult time. Her final thoughts about mental health strategies re-emphasize the idea of self-advocation. “If you are not supporting yourself, then it is difficult to support yourself or within a community,” she said.
As we move forward in our professional journeys, it becomes difficult to maintain our mental health. However, it is a skill that can be honed over time as witnessed in our faculty members. All emphasized the importance of incorporating breaks and support system that has served them well in journeys, and they can serve you well as you continue yours.
Besides utilizing our faculty members’ mental health strategies, our graduate student assistant, Fiama Mastrenglo, provided her insight as a graduate psychology student. References to Mastrenglo’s information are provided below if you are interested.
Pictured left is graduate student assistant, Fiama Mastrenglo.
Practicing mindfulness meditation- Anxiety centers around future deadlines in our academic, professional, and personal life. By learning how to be present in one’s environment, students can mitigate their stress.
Spending time outside/ Playing games- Take a break from studying or an assignment by walking or sitting down in a park can allow you to recharge to tackle your tasks. You could also find intramural sports or campus club activities like Chess Club or Tabletop Gaming Club to relax as well.
Creating a routine- Provide yourself with a sense of structure to help you find times for work and wellness. For example, you could incorporate running after your last class of the day or having a movie night after a big exam.
If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to Chatham University’s Counseling Center underneath Woodland Hall or call 412-365-1282 during 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.
References:
American Heart Association. (2018). Spend time in nature to reduce stress and anxiety. American Heart Association.com. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/spend-time-in-nature-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety
Chatham University- Counseling Center. (n.d.). Resources. Chatham University-Counseling Center.com. https://www.healthandwellness.chatham.edu/resources#relaxation
Life Kit, Cirino, M., Segarra, M. (2023). How to bring more play into your life. npr.com. https://www.npr.org/2023/07/26/1190234742/bring-more-play-into-your-life
Presutti, L. (n.d.). 12 important mental health tips for college students. River Oaks Psychology.com. https://riveroakspsychology.com/12-important-mental-health-tips-for-college-students/