How Mental Health Affects College Students
Q News
By: Madelyn Cooper
How Mental Health Affects College students
Depression and Anxiety have the sense to affect people of all ages, genders, and races. With the alarming rate of clinical depression affecting almost 280 million people worldwide. But what is not talked about often enough is how mental health affects college students. Although, mental health problems in students are not always visible. Many college students are afraid to reach out for help until it is "too late”. There’s a famous quote by the famous actor and stand up comedian Robin Williams who committed suicide in 2014: "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel all alone."
What problems do students face?
HPU students had the chance to be interviewed about how mental health has affected them personally in college and also outside of school, the students have chosen to stay anonymous. One of the students whom was interviewed is a graduate student. When asked how mental health has affected her life in college or even outside of school, she stated “I didn’t realize I had mental health issues until about a month ago, I always knew I was a little different in certain aspects, but I never said “Oh I have extreme anxiety, or OCD, because it never really affected me in that way.”
Until recently she had an extreme episode while she was driving and ended up giving herself vertigo, initially she thought there was something wrong with the prescription of her glasses, although things only seemed to get worse from there, she would only be able to drive with another person in the car, or not being able to drive for more than 5 minutes. That’s when she began seeing a therapist, even waking up and going to class would become difficult for her, she knew it was time to seek out help. Her therapist told her to also seek treatment from a Doctor, Her doctors would tell her “okay this is actually what you have but you’ve been putting it off for so long it is eating you alive.”
A student whom is a freshman at HPU, claims there are several things she wishes her professors or friends knew about how mental health affects her a student. She stated “I used to always be the person people would come to, to tell me about mental health issues and at the time I did not realize how much it affected me, and how much it affects me now being put in this situation, because I always say I don’t want to be the burden, when I’m really not the burden. More or less I want my professors or friends to understand how I really think about myself.” She proceeded to say "There are definitely some professors that I feel comfortable contacting to let them know I will not be able to come to class if I'm having a panic attack, or mental breakdown but there are also some who I would never even consider telling." She also described how dancing has been a way for to practice "self care" for almost her whole life, "Dancing is a great escape for me to get away from all of my academic stresses." She also enjoys yoga and meditating.
A Counselor's perspective.
Ms. Jill Hanson is a counselor through the counseling services at HPU, When asked what is the main mental health concern that students have when they come to counseling services. She stated, “Primarily what we see with most students that come in are dealing and how to cope with anxiety, and also we some effects of depression these are both largely due to issues with stress.” proceeding to ask her if she thinks that mental health has gotten worse or better during the pandemic. Ms. Hanson stated, “Studies show that nationally mental health got drastically worse with Covid, and also surveys with college students that were conducted after March 2020 and they repeatedly suggested that increased psychological distress among college students.”
Ms. Hanson explained how to properly self-care and also how counselors at HPU discuss self care techniques with students, “self-care includes taking care of both your mind and body, not just physically, a big one that students neglect frequently is sleep, researchers experts will show that, you can't just get 7-8 hours every now and then, your brain needs consistency when it comes to sleep. Any kind of movement or physical activity you can do, taking study breaks, brain research shows that you can focus for about 90 minutes, and then your brain needs a break." Ms. Hanson heavily emphasized limiting substance use is a great way to practice self care.
Sources:
Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety
Consequences of student mental health issues
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