Kent was disappointed with this response fromthe College administration--a seeming ignoranceconcerning the verity of her own condition--andthe resources available to all students withmental illness.
"UHS meant well," she says, but notes that "ahalf hour appointment once every two weeks is notenough....They [UHS] often try to pass out drugsreally quickly."
But Kent didn't just talk about fixing theHarvard health care system--she took action. Uponher return to Harvard last year, Kent recognizedthe prevalence of depression and other mentalillnesses among the student body and decided tostart an unofficial support group.
By that time increasingly open about her mentalillness, Kent published a feature article inDiversity & Distinction magazine about herexperiences as a first year student withdepression. After the article was published, Kentsays more than two hundred students contacted herwith a litany of personal stories about their ownbattles with depression and mental illnesses.
"The stigma was changing somewhat and peoplebegan pouring their hearts out to me," Kent says.
"You think that you are the only one, that youare completely isolated," she says.
Thanks to Kent, now in addition to theresources available through UHS, Room 13, theBureau of Study Counsel and House tutors, theMental Health and Support Group also providesinformal services to students who may be sufferingfrom depression. An unofficial gathering ofstudents, the group was founded as a forum forstudents to discuss problems or concerns relatedto mental health and Kent encourages studentsinterested in attending to e-mail her.