According to the report of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five students experiences a mental health condition at college. This huge percentage of young adults struggling with mental health issues makes it essential to increase the awareness about psychological well-being at college campuses. To deal with mental health problems, one needs to know how to identify the signs and symptoms of conditions. To learn more about the mental health challenges commonly experienced by modern students, keep reading the article.

First, let’s find out the main reason why nearly 20% of students face mental health problems. Due to the high academic standards that are set for them, most students devote all their time and energy to studying. They do their best to complete numerous assignments on time. In this case, the viable alternative would be to use professional writing services and get help with some tasks. When I studied at college I preferred to ask eduBirdie to write my essay and to complete research papers. They always provided me with high-quality work on time, so I had more free time to restore my mental energy.

Anxiety

Everybody experiences anxiety from time to time due to various life difficulties. Anxiety is defined as ‘anticipation of future threat’ that negatively affects the ability to manage daily responsibilities and relationships. In many cases, anxiety gets disruptive and manifests itself in various forms, like generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or panic attacks. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is one of the most common concerns among students. The New York Times informs its readers that more than half of college students seeking help at campus struggle with anxiety. Prevailing anxiety symptoms include excessive fatigue, high irritability, feeling restless, inability to focus, insomnia, and muscle tension. The best way to deal with anxiety is to turn to a psychotherapist and try some mindfulness techniques, like meditation and yoga.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health challenge that many people face at college. According to the report of The National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 30% of students sometimes feel depressed, which results in difficulties with functioning. Depression may be a co-occurring disorder that appears as a result of higher levels of stress and anxiety which are often experienced by students, especially while adjusting to a new environment. In some severe cases, depression may even lead to suicidal or intrusive self-harm thoughts. As reported by The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among youth between 10-24 years old. These frightening statistics show how important it is to treat depression before it intensifies. Depression has different forms and severity levels, so students should turn to a mental health professional to find out what exactly they are experiencing and what ways of treatment must be applied. The most common symptoms of this disorder include depressed mood, lack of interest in different activities, weight change, troubles with sleep, fatigue, significantly restless or slowed behaviour, problems with concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

Eating disorders

According to the information provided by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), eating disorders typically start occurring between the ages of 18-21. This kind of mental health challenge is very common among college students. The Walden Centre for Education and Research states that about 20% of students struggle with eating disorders, usually Anorexia or Bulimia. Unfortunately, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among any other mental diseases. That’s why the diagnostics of this mental health problem must be done as early as possible. Because of the big number of students suffering from eating disorders NEDA offered an anonymous online screening program that helps students find out if they have an eating disorder.

The common symptoms of Anorexia involve calorie restrictions to keep the minimal body weight, fear of becoming fat, while underweight, as well as the inability to realise the seriousness of extremely low weight. The symptoms of Bulimia include the following: frequent episodes of binge eating, lack of control over eating, inappropriate actions to prevent weight gains, such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.

People who experience a mental health challenge, often face stigma which is a great barrier to getting support. One of the most difficult steps for them is reaching out for support to recover. Students often feel ashamed or embarrassed about their mental symptoms, so they are just afraid to ask someone for help. But in the same way as one isn’t ashamed for getting medical care for a physical condition, there is no basis to feel so for seeking help in mental health treatment. Everyone deserves to be healthy both psychologically and physically. In case you want to get some tips on improving your mental well-being, read this article.

Author’s BIO

Robert Everett is an activist who increases people’s awareness on mental health. He helps others to learn more about the symptoms, causes and treatment of various psychological disorders. Robert run a few projects for students that are aimed at supporting their emotional wellness.