You and 12.2 million people around your age (under 25) are getting ready to attend university again or for the first time in the fall. There’s a lot of adjustment to be made in these four years. In the end, something less than two-thirds of us will actually walk across the stage to receive our degrees.
I’m not here to talk about how hard college exams are or how important it is to adhere to the syllabus (though true). I’m here to talk about something unacknowledged by many on college campuses. I’m here to talk about your mental health.
Mental health is an uncomfortable topic for most people. You might never get the chance to sit down and have a serious discussion with others about your mental health, so hopefully reading this article will give you the opportunity to at least have an internal discussion. Maybe sharing this article will start the much-needed conversation somewhere else.
Mental illnesses are defined, in part, by what they do. That is, they have the capacity to affect the person’s thinking, feeling and/or mood. This effect has to have some sort of detriment to their ability to function and/or relate to others. Part of defining and diagnosing a mental illness involves acknowledging that it presents a lasting problem for the individual, often making someone incapable of taking care of themselves, let alone get through 4 years of college at the same time.
It’s unfortunate that some of the most fast-paced, consequential years of your life are also the years when you’re most vulnerable to the onset of mental illness. By the age of 24, 75% of people who’ll have to deal with lifelong mental illness will have already experienced their symptoms firsthand. The stigma behind mental health is what silences discussion, which is ridiculous when you consider that 1 in 5 people will deal with mental illness(es) in their lifetimes. Mental illness isn’t exactly uncommon, it’s those who are vocal about their mental illness(es) that are uncommon.
The stigma drives inaction. It takes an average of 8-10 years after symptom onset before someone receives intervening care. You can finish college without ever receiving treatment. If you are unsure about your mental state then see a counselor, most colleges have them. It's better to be safe, and sure, than sorry.
If you know someone who might be having trouble, talk to them, ask them if they're okay. After all, effective treatment and early intervention could save a life.
Don't damage 4 years of college dealing with untreated mental illness.
