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After finding her passion at CSU Stanislaus, alumna Raksmey Castleman is well on her way to a doctoral degree and a career in mental health services. But it was a deeply personal experience that recently became the richest reward of her education.
Castleman noticed last year that her mother — a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide of the late 1970s — was showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Castleman's expertise helped her mother find proper treatment for an often misdiagnosed condition.
Castleman's mother, Chamroeum Sap, lost her husband and 3-year-old son in the genocide and witnessed many atrocities firsthand before escaping to a refugee camp, where she met and eventually married Sareth Roeum, the camp's doctor. Raksmey was the first of their three daughters and spent much of her childhood in the camp, where her mother rocked her in a hammock and slept on a squat bamboo table.
"I never once feared anything with my mom around," she said, "even during surprise attacks and sudden camp relocations in the dark of night."
Those fortunate enough to survive the Khmer Rouge regime often experience a delayed onset of mental health issues later in life, Castleman said, with more than 80 percent of refugees suffering from some form of PTSD. Her mother's symptoms were intermittent and went untreated for years — the full onset of Sap's PTSD came only after her own mother's death in December.
PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder resulting from a traumatic event involving death, threats or injuries, Castleman said. But because its symptoms often overlap with those of general depression and anxiety, people with PTSD can be misdiagnosed or not receive proper treatment.
In the case of her mother, who was initially diagnosed with major depression and general anxiety disorder, Castleman recognized symptoms specific to PTSD — and she had knowledge of the trauma that could have caused it, which she said is another factor that can often be overlooked.
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"My mom is doing much better today," said Castleman, who regularly accompanies Sap to psychiatric appointments and group therapy. "Because of the stigma and cultural barriers relating to mental illness, convincing my mother to seek help was a real challenge. Like many people, she was unaware that helpful resources existed, let alone how to access them."
Castleman, whose family moved to the United States when she was 9, came to CSU Stanislaus as a transfer student seeking a nursing degree. Fred Edmundson, then CSU Stanislaus' associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, encouraged Castleman to pursue a physical education major with a concentration in health and wellness promotion. She earned her bachelor's degree in 2008 with support from her mentors, kinesiology professors Janice Herring and Ping Luo.
Castleman was then hired as a behavioral specialist for the Community Behavioral Intervention Services program (CBIS) at Human Services Project Inc. in Stockton, where she is now the program director. At CBIS, Castleman provides one-on-one, community-based interventions with people suffering from severe mental illness, including PTSD.
Now with a master’s in public health from Walden University, Castleman is pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field. Her dissertation will focus on mental health among Cambodians in San Joaquin County — many of them live in poverty, Castleman said, and health disparities are high because of socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural factors.
"I've chosen to dedicate my research, life and career to finding a new, holistic, evidence-based approach to help those living with mental illness find hope and regain self-reliance and dignity," Castleman said. "I am grateful for all the support from my family and mentors, who helped make my journey possible."