Recap: Mental Health Q&A

September 8th, 2026, written by Shivani Mariappan

On August 23rd, Under the Iceberg hosted a Zoom Q&A session with Dr. Karen Bernstein, a UChicago physician with expertise in adolescent mental health. Participants discussed mental health, overcoming challenges, and the differences between stress and anxiety. Here’s our takeaways from the event.

“How can you deal with college application stress?”

OUR TAKEWAY: Dealing with college applications can be tricky, and having a small amount of time to complete all of the applications is indeed overwhelming. To calm yourself, you can partake in activities you enjoy, take breaks, spend time with loved ones, and accept help when in need. Additionally, try to look for colleges that benefit your learning needs. Remember that this application cycle is only a moment in time that will soon pass.

“What are some key ways to distinguish stress versus anxiety?”

OUR TAKEWAY: Generally, if stress gets so extreme that it is affecting your daily routine — sleep, interest, relationships, etc — that signals true anxiety. Notably,high-achieving individuals may normalize stress as a part of their identity, not realizing that what they are experiencing is much more than that. Some warning signs include not being able to fall asleep or not being able to wake up. It’s important to get help when anxiety is taking over your life. 

“Who can you talk to if you’re uncomfortable discussing mental health with your parents?”

OUR TAKEWAY: A school counselor, if your school offers one, is one example resource. You can also seek help from pediatricians, family doctors, and internal medicine doctors, all of which would be comfortable having such conversations. If your parents don’t allow you to get assistance from these people, there are state-dependent laws regarding mental health access. In the state of Illinois, certain virtual services allow treatment without parent permission.