"Ugh, I'm gonna die"
"Just kill me already"
"I actually can't with this week anymore"
How many times have you heard a friend say these phrases? How many times did they say them in the past week? How many times did you...
It's no secret that college depression rates are sky high, and anxiety normally follows. What were once words said flippantly in conversation, are now a generational identity. Millennials, we're entitled, snowflakes, and heavily medicated.
What are we numbing? Why are we running from ourselves? Ask any young person what their biggest stressor in life is right now, and 98 percent of them will most likely say school.
Why is school such a big deal now? Back in our parents day, all you had to do was study hard, do well on some tests, have a part time job, and you can get yourself a college education.
We know nothing about this today. With standardized tests that are now known to favor those with a higher socio-economical status, college prep schools that send kids home with eight hours of homework every night, and college tuition prices that cost the same as a new home, it's easy to see why my generation is so stressed.
The sad thing is, most of us don't even know how stressed and unhealthy we are. We're so used to a certain level of insanity in our lives, we just let things pile more and more on top of one another. But, there's always that one straw that breaks the camel's back.
Midterm season, a bad grade, harsh words between friends, or a fight with a boyfriend can all send a student into a tailspin of tragic proportions. I look around my campus sometimes and hate it. Under all the swaying palm trees, glittering blue skies, and emerald green grass something sinister stirs.
This campus kills; I have seen firsthand how much it can beat down a student. Unfortunately, it's a silent killer and does not work alone. The anxiety students face isn't exclusive to my university, it's all over the country.
I don't know how much can be done to change or stop this, but the first step is always to call attention. So I'm calling out my school and all schools that are not putting the health (yes, including mental health) of their students first. Schools whose only concern are their engorged endowment funds and perfectly manicured lawns.
I'm calling for change, but it always starts with the individual. So take steps to take your health back. Don't let school get into your head. Life will go on after that bad grade, and quite honestly, it has barely begun.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression, please don't hesitate to reach out. There's no need to do this alone. You are needed, you are wanted, and you are worth so much more than school.
National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
USC Counseling Services: (213) 740-7711
