By: Linda C. Silva
I would like to share these alarming statistics with you:
“According to the American College Health Association
(ACHA)…suicide is the second most common cause of death among college
students…and 1 in 12 college students has actually made a suicide plan at some
point…” 1
For many students all around the world college = stress! The
stress may be caused from constant feelings of being overwhelmed, intense
pressure to get good grades, financial restraints and nights with little or no sleep.
Speaking from personal experience, my number one stress was keeping my GPA high
enough to keep my scholarship as well as to be a competitive candidate for grad
school while working a full-time job. There was just so much pressure to
perform well.
So many of us leave home for the first time to attend
college and are not prepared for the big challenges ahead of us. We take a full
course load; which brings simultaneous tests and test anxiety. We are introduced to lots of social pressure
to fit in and create a ‘college life’. Several of us will work part-time and
some will even try to work a full-time job. We eat at different times each day
and often skip meals or eat what is affordable, not necessarily what is
nutritious. And when it comes to sleep….well, what’s that? Life becomes a
juggling act similar to a circus that can quickly spiral out of control. This
is when the stress of being a college student becomes the tiger that can prey
on our mental health.
The stress may create anxiety, mood swings, depression,
feeling of hopelessness or failure, fear, physical health issues, negative
attitudes, impulsiveness, low self-esteem, eating disorders, panic attacks,
loss of interest, change in hygiene and even suicidal thoughts or intentions. Sound
familiar? You feel as though you are
walking a tight rope and slip off while all eyes are watching you fall into the
net below. At that point, you feel hopeless. Please do not lose hope because there are so many things you can do to help!
A few simple things I
did were: study outside, yoga, and
talking to my college mentor. The change of environment refreshed me, yoga
cleared my mind, and talking to my mentor helped me to understand that I was
not alone. It was really comforting to know that other people felt overwhelmed
and like giving up. And after opening up to other students, I found out that we
were all performers in that circus like college life and we were able to support
one another. Each of us handles stress differently. What’s important is that
you learn coping mechanisms to deal with the stress and pressures of college.
There are many STIGMAS attached to mental health issues and talking
to a college counselor or psychologist, but I say you are actually the smart student
for talking with someone and taking the steps to reduce your stress. Remember,
there is no time like the present to voice your feelings and tame your stress!
Below are a few links
on more information on this topic and other ideas to help you combat stress:
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