Honoring a friend, championing mental health

Adam Weyer is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Cincinnati: James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

In November 2024, I received gut-wrenching news that altered my life forever. I was working a normal, mundane shift at my local pediatric hospital when I received an unexpected call. My close friend had been battling depression in silence and lost the night before. Within seconds, I felt every emotion imaginable. Sure, I was shocked, confused, and sad, but the main feelings I felt were anger and regret: angry at myself for not seeing the signs and regretting not reaching out while I had the chance.

The next few weeks felt hazy and gray. I was constantly getting lost in my own thoughts, trying to make sense of it all. If you met him, you never would have guessed he was battling depression. He had the most vibrant personality with a smile that could fill any room. He brought passion into everything he did and was a role model for me in more ways than one.

Once the dust settled and the spring semester began, I started to feel a sense of clarity. Yes, I’ll never know what he was going through, but it was my responsibility to live a life he would be proud of. I’ll always have him watching over me, giving me strength to help others and break the stigma around men’s mental health.

Student pharmacist situational stressors

Although my passion for raising awareness is around men’s mental health, student pharmacists are constantly experiencing situational stressors that can strain their mental health. You are constantly worried about the next quiz, recitation, exam, objective structured clinical examination, etc. Combine that with pressures to build your CV through leadership positions, community outreach, networking, and advocating for the profession, and you often overlook prioritizing your own mental health.

However, through personal experience and taking part in mental health initiatives, I’ve discovered some guiding principles that help me promote positive mental management in myself and those around me.     

1. Practice patience, spread love

As students, it’s easy to get tunnel-visioned on your own lives and responsibilities. When others act cold to you, professors don’t respond to your email for clarification right away, etc., it’s easy to get upset with them. However, you never truly know what the people around us are going through. Everyone has their own personal struggles and challenges that they fight, which are reflected in the way they interact with others.

But humans always have the capacity to do good, to be nice to those who wrong them, and to be patient with one another. Instead of finding a reason to be angry, practice finding ways to make those around you feel loved and appreciated.

2. Calm your harshest critic

You can be your own harshest critic, subconsciously scrutinizing every decision and action you’ve ever made, which only leads to feelings of being inadequate. I battle imposter syndrome every day I walk into school, telling myself I’m undeserving of sitting in the same classroom as my colleagues. However, I’ve talked to multiple student pharmacists, both at the University of Cincinnati and around the country, and that same personification is shared among everyone.

Being a student pharmacist is a grand accomplishment, but you still inherently see all the mistakes you’ve made. You must remind yourself how hard you worked to get to this moment in your life and take pride in your journey.

3. Meet people where they are

I’m sure you’ve heard to “check in on their friends and loved ones.” I agree that it’s vital to check in on one another, but responses are often superficial. If I were in the mud and received a text asking how I was doing, I’d rather lie and say things are going great than admit my struggle. Make time to see one another to check in and see how those closest to you truly feel. If they’re down in the mud, dealing with some heavy stuff, sit in the mud with them. Even if all you can offer is words of encouragement, the belief that someone is in their corner may make a huge difference. Opening up to others is a level of vulnerability that you should feel honored to see, and it’s your responsibility to make sure they feel loved and appreciated.

In short, negativity is rampant these days. It’s easy to follow suit, but I challenge you to change the narrative and be a force for good. You never know how much it could impact those around you.