Managing Mental Health in College

Living with mental health problems is never easy, add the stress of deadlines, grades and projects and many students can feel over faced and daunted by college demands. There may not have been a lot of talk about mental health a few years ago. Yet, awareness of depression, anxiety, stress and other commonly diagnosed mental health problems is increasing. And many colleges and universities are now actively trying to support students who may be experiencing these issues.

How to Manage Your Mental Health

Managing your mental health isn’t all too different from managing your physical health. It is important to understand that both mental and health fluctuate, and any one can suffer from mental health issues – just as any one can pick up on a common cold. When signs of mental illness start to manifest, many students believe that powering through their deadlines is the only option they have. Yet, it is important to put your mental health first and give yourself ample time to ensure you are practicing self-care and not exacerbating your condition.

While expressions such as “what have you got to be depressed about?” aren’t heard as much as they used to, many students still feel as though they are not entitled to be burdened by mental health issues. But in reality, the lifestyle changes which students make when they start college are often mentally taxing. Being far away from friends, family and familiar surroundings can all take their toll.

Recognising that you are suffering from a mental health problem is the first step, the second is to reach out for help and support; which many colleges and universities are now offering to students. This help may come in the form of Mental Health teams which are able to make reasonable adjustments to your study life. This can include extending deadlines or offering additional study support. There are also external companies who can help you with your essay writing to help you stay on top of your deadlines.

There are several key ways to boost your wellbeing in addition to receiving academic support.

This includes ensuring that you are looking after your physical health, eating healthy and getting enough exercise. Exercise is proven to boost your serotonin, whilst the right diet will ensure you have enough energy to tackle the daily demands of college life.

Being active is important, and so is being social, there are plenty of ways college campuses try to encourage healthy social lives of students. Meeting like minded people is an important part of the college experience, so try to put a support network around you who you are comfortable talking to about your mental health issues. You’ll be surprised at how many other students feel the same way!

And remember, not all stress is bad for you. It’s okay to feel stressed out, feeling stress or anxiety about your academic life is natural. After you’ve invested so much time and money trying to get the good grades and make the most out of your college experience.