During this time, she worked in pediatric psychiatry. “I only saw kids in there for a very brief time and at a very hard time,” she said.
At that time in Ostor’s career, there were no follow-ups to the appointments she had with the young people she was working with, which left her feeling separated from the patients in her care. “[I] would just see them in that last moment in the hospital when it had gotten to the point where it wasn’t [the patient’s] choice anymore to get help,” Ostor said.
Because of this, Ostor decided to focus her efforts into helping students in school systems. Ostor said her main goal is to make connections with students and to create a space where an open and ongoing conversation towards bettering mental health emerges. She sees her time at Masters as an opportunity to make meaningful connections with students and to promote useful dialogue around mental health education.
Nayoung Ko, one of the co-presidents of SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions, said that she appreciates how dedicated Ostor is to the club as well as to helping people on campus. Ko emphasized, “She really supports our ideas, and she wants to make sure that we are successful.”
Lila Patterson, one of SADD’s supporting officers noted how Ostor is working to change the way SADD is perceived on campus. “We aren’t just the goody-two-shoes type of students that are running a club to tell people not to drink. With Ms. Ostor’s help, we are gaining expertise beyond the ‘Masters bubble’.”
Ostor believes that because of the current political and social climate, mental health has come to the forefront of people’s conversations. “It makes people think ‘Wow, why aren’t we paying more attention to mental health issues?’ So I think that as time goes on, it will just be more of a norm,” she said.
Ostor encourages students to visit the Health Center. “We are always here for students, if you want to just stop by and say ‘Hey’ or if you want to learn more skills if you are having a lot of stress. Anytime, just pop in and if we are free we will meet with you,” Ostor said.