To address the growing student isolation, TCU Student Affairs and the Counseling & Mental Health Center hosted a campus screening of the documentary short \u201cCollege Unscripted\u201d on Wednesday, Sept. 16.<\/p>\n
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A graph from the UnitedHealthcare Young Adult and College Student Behavioral Health Report detailing the incidence of mental health concerns among college students compared to their non-enrolled peers. (Graphic courtesy of UnitedHealthcare \/ SCHEV)<\/p>\n
Directed by Jason Reid and produced by Dana Christian Lee alongside Dr. Eric Wood, \u201cCollege Unscripted,\u201d a project under the broader \u201cTell My Story\u201d initiative, focuses on the contrast between public perception and the personal struggles students face when transitioning to college life.<\/p>\n
Rather than relying on traditional administrative lectures or clinical advice, the documentary relies on students sharing their own stories and how they overcame their struggles with isolation.<\/p>\n
The documentary\u2019s focus reflects broader trends across higher education. According to the 2024\u20132025 Healthy Minds Study, 37% of college students screened positive for moderate or severe depression, while 33% screened positive for moderate or severe anxiety. Furthermore, nearly one in four students reported feeling regularly isolated from others.<\/p>\n
After the screening, Reid highlighted how modern campus pressures differ from past generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that when I went to college, I packed up a U-Haul, I drove off\u2026 but there wasn\u2019t a lot of pressure,\u201d Reid said. \u201cThe pressure on all of the students today is so much greater, whether in high school, elementary school, or college, than it ever was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the film, student cast members took the stage for a Q&A panel to discuss the reality of putting their personal struggles on camera for the campus community to see.<\/p>\n
Monyette Whitlock, a junior acting major and cast member in the film, reflected on why he decided to share his story publicly.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/IMG_4930-1-e1789678513747-450x600.jpg\")
A promotional poster for the \u201cCollege Unscripted\u201d documentary on display outside the Tucker Family Ballroom. (TCU 360\/Tanner Higgs)<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, what made me put my personal story on the screen was I was kind of\u2026 running away from it, I would say,\u201d Whitlock said. \u201cA young gentleman told me that my story could potentially help someone else in a similar situation\u2026 so that\u2019s ultimately just putting my fear to the side.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked what advice he would offer to peers dealing with similar struggles, Whitlock mentioned the impact of his faith.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say God helped me,\u201d Whitlock said. \u201cI would say go to God with it, and also I would say put action to your faith as well. So praying, yes, reading your word, yes, but also putting yourself in good situations as opposed to negative ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many in attendance, hearing classmates speak openly about feeling isolated behind a mask of campus involvement struck a personal chord.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are never truly alone,\u201d said Kalah Guthrie, a junior marketing and communications double major who attended the screening. \u201cHaving a community surrounding you and leaning on them when things get hard is what truly matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Representatives from the Counseling & Mental Health Center emphasized that peer-led storytelling can provide an accessible entry point for students who might otherwise feel intimidated by clinical settings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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