By Rosalyn Johnson
Trinity Times Correspondent

The mission for Yvette Brown goes beyond treating the mentally ill as a therapist/counselor in Washington and into a national public advocacy to remove the shame for those with mental health conditions.

People with mental health conditions – such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and attention disorders – remain pervasively stigmatized worldwide, adding to their suffering, Brown told Trinity Times. 

It’s particularly important to help destigmatize mental health conditions among the youth, making it more likely they will seek treatment, she said. 

Brown is grateful that institutions of higher education like Trinity Washington University actively promote mental health care and encourage their students to shed the shame of the variety of conditions.

“One day, I encountered a group of young adult freshmen outside my office who were struggling academically and lacked focus on pursuing their college goals,” she said. “Recognizing the importance of academic focus for their future, I invited them in and spoke to them about the significance of prioritizing their studies if they wished to pursue higher education. However, I also inquired about their ‘why? – Why are you here? Why do you want this? Why is it so hard right now? – Why are you willing to try?'”

With close to 2,000 students each semester attending Trinity Washington University, the school’s student body makes up a majority women of color, a population that often faces numerous challenges and environmental stressors that can impact their ability to function effectively on campus.

According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCSR), approximately 9.1% of U.S. adults aged 18 or older experienced some form of anxiety disorder in the past year. Notably, the prevalence of anxiety disorders was higher among females (23.4%) compared to males (14.3%). Additionally, the highest occurrence of major depressive episodes was observed among individuals aged 18-25 (18.6%).

Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1973, Brown has dedicated significant time to advocating for and supporting young adults struggling with mental health concerns. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work before pursuing her master’s degree and is currently working towards her Ph.D., expected to be completed in 2025.

Brown has also conducted presentations for the National Alliance of Mental Health’s (NAMI) “Ending the Silence in 2010” program, furthering her commitment to mental health advocacy. 

She has been a keynote speaker at conferences with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America since 2015, been a panelist with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) “Burnout Prevention” program, and Howard University’s School of Social Work assembly on “Supervision Support.”

Brown is passionate about supporting high school students in the D.C. area as they transition to college, recognizing the stress and adjustment involved and regularly works with area secondary schools near Trinity and at Howard University to provide support and guidance to students during their freshman year of college. 

Leveraging her proximity and familiarity with both high school and college environments, her aim is to help students navigate the challenges of transitioning to higher education and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive academically and personally.

Trinity Washington University has prioritized the health and wellness of its students, offering readily available resources at its health and wellness center. 

Counselors are on hand to provide immediate assistance in emergencies or to schedule appointments for ongoing issues affecting students academically and personally.

“I often encounter students grappling with anxiety stemming from heavy workloads, depression rooted in past traumas, and stress triggered by communication dynamics within family units, all of which strain their nervous systems,” Hannah Halbreich, a mental health counselor at Trinity, told Trinity Times.

Trinity student Retina Christian said she is grateful the university emphasizes the importance of mental health.

“Having a clear mind is essential for academic and personal success,” Christian said. “My mental health is my top priority, and I appreciate the accommodations, support, and guidance that Trinity offers.”

It’s the kind of mental health priority and destigmatizing Brown says she will continue to champion, allowing people to openly discuss their experiences, seek assistance when needed, and to create a supportive network that empowers them to prioritize self-care.

“As a therapist, I believe in the power of the mind,” she said. “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) takes a collaborative approach, focusing on the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It equips individuals with tools to effectively manage their thoughts and emotions.”