Leadership

​                Coming to USC and working as an RA with ARISE, I started to realize the lack of resources the Center for Health and Well-Being provides to students diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). From my Key Insight 1 and looking into research about ADHD, I believe the USC Center for Health and Well-Being should expand its resources to help better accommodate students diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopment disorder that begins in childhood and persists into adulthood. About 2% - 8% of students entering college are affected by ADHD, representing a significant portion of college students (Stevens, Abu-Ramadan & Hartung, 2022). ADHD is linked to hyperactivity and inability to focus, and it can create challenges that can negatively affect academic performance. College can be overwhelming for students as it is a new environment, and without the right resources and support, it can have a toll on a student's overall well-being. My goal is to address this issue by creating a plan that bring in the Psychological Services Center ADHD program to the Center of Health and Well-Being as a resource for students and bring awareness to resources for students diagnosed with ADHD to know about that can help guide and promote growth in their academic journey.

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​              As the ​Center for Health and Well-Being does provide and promote its resources on campus to students, I believe there is a gap regarding resources and awarness for ADHD. Expanding on current resources the Center for Health and Well-Being has can be beneficial in addressing this problem. One way to address this issue is to have students know that these resources are provided for them when first coming to campus. A study by Jermey, Deanna, and Bryan looked into whether college students learn about mental health resources on campus. It was found that students with mental health issues knew about the resources but did not use them despite knowing that others were not aware of the resources (Yorgason, Linville, & Zitzman, 2008). So, what is the problem that hinders students from seeking these resources or not knowing about them? Factors such as living off campus and fewer years in college are some reasons students do not use or know of mental health resources provided on campus. In addition to addressing this problem, expanding on current resources is important to ensure that all students can have optimal resources to enhance their academics and mental health. The campus does have a workshop offered by the USC Psychological Services Center in which undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical students with ADHD can come to help manage ADHD symptoms and develop skills that allow students to have the basic tools for their academic success, such as time management, study, and organizational skills. However, this program has a limited seat and a fee. I believe this is a great resource that can be expanded more and incorporated into the Center for Health and Well-Being for students to learn about whenever they start college.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​