Mental Health: The College Years
Did You Know? - College-age adults are the MOST likely to develop a mental health problem and the LEAST likely to seek treatment.
Listed here are the most common mental health disorders affecting college students in the United States: Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Suicide, and Eating Disorders. However, there are many more out there. For more information please go to the Half of Us and the National Institute of Mental Health websites.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: If you or a friend have any of these listed conditions, seek help immediately!
Most can be treated with the right counseling and/or medication intervention. SCSU Counseling Services is a resource on-campus that is open and free to all students, and it is staffed by experienced and licensed counselors.
1. Depression
Depression is an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, sadness, and persistent gloom you cannot control. It disrupts your ability to function normally - you may not want to attend classes, hang out with friends, or do activities you typically enjoy. You may feel fatigued, have a lack of motivation, or thoughts of death and suicide (seek help immediately!) Depression can be attributed to genetic factors, chemical imbalances, family problems or history of abuse, death of a loved one, etc. College students may be more vulnerable due to the following reasons:
- Stress of trying to balance classes, work, family time, and social life
- Uncertainty about money or life after college
- Homesickness
- Poor sleep, diet, or exercise habits
- Alcohol or drug use
- Dorm, friend, or romantic relationship problems
2. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. They include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias. Extreme anxiety is out of proportion to what's going on or be impossible to control. It can feel so overwhelming that a person’s ability to work, study, interact with people, or follow a daily routine is affected. Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Difficulty concentrating, Cannot relax
- Trouble falling asleep
- Startle easily, Muscle tension
- Fatigue, Headaches
- Twitching, Irritability
- Sweating, Nausea, Lightheadedness
3. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. Both men and women can be negatively affected by eating disorders and three main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. They are real, treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. People with eating disorders also can suffer from numerous other physical health complications, such as heart conditions or kidney failure, which can lead to death.
4. Suicide
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. However, the good news is that it can be prevented. Most people who are suicidal give warning signs that they plan to take their own lives, but those close to them are often unaware of the significance of these signals or are unsure of what to do about them. Most of them also desperately want to live but are unable to find another way to cope with their thoughts and feelings. Common warning signs include:
- Hopelessness, Feeling trapped, Anxiety
- Dramatic mood change, Withdrawing from friends and family
- Talk about killing oneself ("no point in living anymore")
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Writing about death, dying, or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
- Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other violent means
Should you witness, hear, or see anyone showing any of these suicidal symptoms, get help IMMEDIATELY by calling a mental health professional, an emergency number, or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255
Listed here are the most common mental health disorders affecting college students in the United States: Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Suicide, and Eating Disorders. However, there are many more out there. For more information please go to the Half of Us and the National Institute of Mental Health websites.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: If you or a friend have any of these listed conditions, seek help immediately!
Most can be treated with the right counseling and/or medication intervention. SCSU Counseling Services is a resource on-campus that is open and free to all students, and it is staffed by experienced and licensed counselors.
1. Depression
Depression is an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness, sadness, and persistent gloom you cannot control. It disrupts your ability to function normally - you may not want to attend classes, hang out with friends, or do activities you typically enjoy. You may feel fatigued, have a lack of motivation, or thoughts of death and suicide (seek help immediately!) Depression can be attributed to genetic factors, chemical imbalances, family problems or history of abuse, death of a loved one, etc. College students may be more vulnerable due to the following reasons:
- Stress of trying to balance classes, work, family time, and social life
- Uncertainty about money or life after college
- Homesickness
- Poor sleep, diet, or exercise habits
- Alcohol or drug use
- Dorm, friend, or romantic relationship problems
2. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. They include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias. Extreme anxiety is out of proportion to what's going on or be impossible to control. It can feel so overwhelming that a person’s ability to work, study, interact with people, or follow a daily routine is affected. Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Difficulty concentrating, Cannot relax
- Trouble falling asleep
- Startle easily, Muscle tension
- Fatigue, Headaches
- Twitching, Irritability
- Sweating, Nausea, Lightheadedness
3. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is marked by extremes. It is present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape. Both men and women can be negatively affected by eating disorders and three main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. They are real, treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. People with eating disorders also can suffer from numerous other physical health complications, such as heart conditions or kidney failure, which can lead to death.
4. Suicide
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. However, the good news is that it can be prevented. Most people who are suicidal give warning signs that they plan to take their own lives, but those close to them are often unaware of the significance of these signals or are unsure of what to do about them. Most of them also desperately want to live but are unable to find another way to cope with their thoughts and feelings. Common warning signs include:
- Hopelessness, Feeling trapped, Anxiety
- Dramatic mood change, Withdrawing from friends and family
- Talk about killing oneself ("no point in living anymore")
- Increased alcohol or drug use
- Writing about death, dying, or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
- Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other violent means
Should you witness, hear, or see anyone showing any of these suicidal symptoms, get help IMMEDIATELY by calling a mental health professional, an emergency number, or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255
