Campus resources for managing your mental health

Attending a college or university for the first time involves contending with an array of challenges and stresses. Unsurprisingly, approximately one-third of students will experience a mental health disorder over the course of their academic career. Trying to manage such issues without support can be crippling, but there’s an array of on-campus resources that can help. Here are a few of them.

Counseling services
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, one of your first steps should be to seek out the counseling services offered by your campus. They usually provide individual counseling but may also point you towards other resources depending on your needs.

Academic support
Many first-year students are caught off guard by the heavy workload involved. This can lead to procrastination, which makes it exceedingly difficult to manage competing deadlines. Some students fall so far behind that they become overwhelmed, and the resulting stress can provoke depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

Fortunately, many campuses offer group workshops and mentoring programs. This helps students develop the time management skills required for managing academic workloads.

Safe spaces
If you’re struggling with feeling marginalized for any reason, talking to other students in a similar situation can make a huge difference. Many student associations maintain safe spaces where you can share your experiences and attend friendly social gatherings and events. In addition, make sure to report any instance of discrimination or harassment to the office of the ombudsperson.

According to one self-report survey, which reviewed first-year students in 19 colleges across eight countries, over 30 percent of respondents screened positive for a mental health disorder.

Signs and symptoms of mental illness
Mental health issues can present in a variety of ways. Be sure to consult with a doctor and reach out for the support you need if you experience any of the following:

• Consistently feeling sad or down
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Confused thinking
• Reduced ability to concentrate
• Excessive fears or worries
• Extreme feelings of guilt
• Extreme mood fluctuations
• Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping
• Detachment from reality, delusions, paranoia or hallucinations
• Inability to cope with daily problems or stresses
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Major changes in eating habits
• Excessive weight loss or weight gain
• Excessive anger, hostility or violence
• Suicidal thinking