Summer Treatment in Boston

THE STORY:

Hi, my name is Hannah. I am a fourth-year student at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. 

If you know me, you probably know that I have been pretty open about my mental health challenges. Mental illness has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. In my second year of university, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and clinical depression. I was struggling to complete assignments on time, having panic attacks in the classroom, and dreaded going to school every single day. 

Despite anxiety and depression, I managed to keep up with my school work and even excel. I graduated from high school with the highest average of my grad class and received early acceptance to university. I consistently received A's in my classes, was accepted into an honours program, volunteered several times a week, and worked part-time. From the outside, I appeared to have my life in order. 

On the inside, however, I was on a steady decline, until I reached a point where I was barely holding things together. 

Last semester, Winter 2018, culminated in a complete breakdown. I withdrew from and incompleted my classes. As a result, my graduation was delayed. I felt utterly helpless and hopeless. I have always loved learning, always loved school, but it had become something that filled me with fear and left me feeling incompetent, unable to continue. With the help of my parents, I got the medical and psychological care that I desperately needed to recover from this place of crisis, but I now understand that I need more help than I realized. Intensive, long-term help, not just occasional appointments with professionals.

THE ASK:

In the midst of my breakdown, I  began researching mental illness on university campuses. I was encouraged by reading about the experiences of other students and it made me feel less alone. I came across a phenomenal program through Boston University’s Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation called NITEO. 

This program is one of a kind. It is an eleven week intensive program for college students on leave from school for mental health reasons. It is an academic skills building program with a focus on resilience, wellness, and gaining the required skills and supports to successfully re-engage in school. NITEO is precisely the program I need. 

I have been in contact with their coordinator and I have been accepted as a participant for their summer session, running June-August. This has been so exciting for me – for the first time, I feel hopeful that I might be able to overcome these challenges and return to school, to rediscover my love of learning. 

The only barrier that remains for me to attend NITEO is cost. In addition to the cost of the program itself, I also have to cover the cost of my travel, housing, and food. The approximate  breakdown (in US dollars) is as follows:

$1200 - NITEO program fees
$1800 - accommodations for 3 months 
$1000 - return flight 
$2000 - food, transportation, and other expenses  

In total, this program will cost approximately $7000 Canadian. Being a student with only a part-time job, in combination with the less-than-ideal exchange rate, and under a month to come up with the full amount, I cannot feasibly attend NITEO on my own. 

It is only out of absolute necessity that I am asking for your support. 

I truly believe that NITEO will be life-changing for me. They have a fantastic track record of success stories from past participants. There are no other comparable programs in the world, let alone ones that are cheaper or closer to home. 

I would have the utmost appreciation for any support, big or small, that anyone can give me to make this happen. 

For more information about NITEO, I have attached an informational video below. Alternately, you can visit this website or read this article in the New York Times, which is how I first learned about the program. 


If you have any other questions about me, NITEO, or anything else, I would love to hear from you! 

With sincere gratitude, 

Hannah Gaunt