What Are Colleges Doing to Address Mental Health Issues?

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College students are required to focus on academics and self-development during a very strenuous time. There’s an academic “bubble” students get to live in during their college years as they learn and prepare to head out into the real world armed with the social and academic skills.

The troubling facts remain: a full third of college students report experiencing depression at some point during their college career, with many also dealing with anxiety.

While students have always faced stress and pressure at college, we live in a tumultuous time of volatile politics and constant online awareness. Fortunately, most colleges provide counseling and support for you throughout your college career. 

Let’s take a look at how to recognize stress and what to do when you find yourself experiencing anxiety resulting from stress or other mental health concerns, many of which may present in your early 20s (the age of most college students). 

Recognize Common Stressors

Knowing what stresses you out can help you keep control of your situation and seek help before it accumulates. Here are some common stressors that affect college students. In addition to causing stress, some of these stressors, such as difficulties in interpersonal relationships, may also reflect other underlying stressors or mental health issues. 

• Student loan debt: The average monthly student loan payment is $393. Going into debt for your education can cause serious stress and anxiety. If you find yourself thinking about it a lot, it may be time to seek counseling, especially if those thoughts get in the way of other activities or cause you to lose sleep.
• Access to healthcare: While most students are on their parents’ healthcare plans (you can stay on them until you’re 26), the economy remains shaky. Parents’ jobs aren’t guaranteed, and neither is your healthcare. Fortunately, most colleges have student healthcare plans to ensure you’re covered. If you’re worried about your access to healthcare (as many Americans are), speak with your parents, counselor, or college health administrator about your options. 
• Marginalizations: If you’re like many students, you may come from a marginalized background. From DACA recipients worried about being targeted by ICE to black students afraid of a misunderstanding with biased law enforcement officers, marginalizations don’t stop just because you’re on campus. You need the space to be yourself and accesses to school amenities without fear of judgment; if you feel that you don’t have that, it’s time to speak with a counselor. 
• Academic failure: No one likes getting a low grade, and college takes some adjustment for even the most well-prepared students. If your grades start to slip, no matter the reason, it’s time to communicate with your professors and counselors. 
• Trouble sleeping: If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping due to anxious or intrusive thoughts, or if you go into total panic, it’s possible that your doctor and mental health professional may prescribe a medication like Ativan to help you sleep and stay focused. You may also learn about CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and meditation to assist with these issues. 
• Problems and pressures at home: You might think that problems and pressures from home stay there when you leave, but that’s seldom the case, especially with social media and instant phone communication. You’ll have to learn to set boundaries with your parents and become your own person, and counseling can help you with that.
• Social pressures at college: Do you find your friends pressuring you into binge drinking or other social activities you might not want to be part of? Yep, that’s stressful, too. This is a very common stressor in school.
• Safety on campus: If you’ve been the target of theft, sexual harassment, assault or any other negative behavior on campus, it can be hard to feel safe. Talk to your counselor about a support network to help. 
• Interpersonal relationships: In college, we explore new friendships. Many of us also explore romantic relationships and our personal identities. Knowing yourself is one of the most advantageous parts of a college education, but the process isn’t without stress. Recognize when you’re feeling the overwhelm and reach out. 
• Physical health and sex: College students develop illnesses and ailments just like anyone else, and they also have a high chance of contracting an STI: one in two sexually active individuals under the age of 25 will get one. If you notice the symptoms, go see your campus health professionals. Denying physical health issues will only increase your level of stress.

How do you recognize that these stressors are causing problems for you? The symptoms of anxiety include avoidance of social interactions, excessive worry over what people think of you, stuttering, blushing and sweating in public, fear of judgment, and nausea before and during social situations. If you experience any of these on a regular basis, seeking counseling will benefit you greatly. 

Colleges: Mental Health Resources

 Fortunately, college campuses generally have phenomenal mental health resources for students. Here’s what many campuses offer:

• Awareness in orientation: During college orientation, incoming transfer students often get some education about mental health and what resources they should use in the case of a mental health issue. This not only provides specific resources, but it normalizes a conversation about mental wellness on campus. It’s not something to be ashamed about, but something to discuss and confront. Between 2007 and 2012, anxiety diagnoses went up 20% in adolescents, which means you might have headed into your college career with an undiagnosed anxiety problem exacerbated by college conditions. Don’t be afraid to start the conversation. 
• Free mental health screenings: Some schools communicate with students about their regular mental health monitoring, encouraging self-checks. Others, such as UCLA, offer free formal mental health screenings. Again, this normalizes mental health wellness and helps students catch issues early on. 
• Integrated mental health discussions: Some professors may provide mental health check-ins, especially after difficult world events, or when the subject matter of the class touches on a relevant social or mental health issue for others. 

Additionally, your professors and faculty can be fantastic, trustworthy initial resources for your mental health journey.

How Administrators, Professors, and Faculty Can Help

 Most professors and faculty are not mental health professionals, but they do have experience dealing with college-aged students and they have their own life experiences as well. While they may refer you to the campus mental health professionals (or off-site counseling), you might find an initial conversation with them helpful.

 If you’re connected to your professors via social media, such as Facebook, or via email, you may be able to reach out that way, as sometimes written communications are easier for us all. Your professors and administrators can also support (or direct you to) social media-focused mental health and wellness initiatives supported by the school. 

 As with most difficulties we face in college, knowledge is power. Take advantage of the resources you learn about in orientation, rely on your peer network, professors and administrators and learn to recognize when you may be having a problem. We have a lot of reasons to be stressed out, and asking for support in a resource-rich environment like college means winning half the battle.

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