National Suicide Hotline in the U.S.A.: 1-800-273-8255
You hear colleges speak on topics related to drugs, alcohol use, and sexual abuse. I remember as early as middle school having an assembly about the D.A.R.E Program. It's easy for people to talk about drugs and alcohol, because schools talk about them openly. It doesn't seem taboo to do or talk about. Mental Health is different though. It almost seems taboo to talk about with someone because of the lack of awareness about the subject. Sure, you can tell when something in your body doesn't feel right because there are visual signs. You're body part typically hurts or has symptoms relating to an illness. However, are we aware of the signs of depression as much as we are about a physical illness?
Mental health can show up in various ways. From anxiety and depression to bipolar disorder. College is stressful and a major transition in many young people's lives. It's hard to tell if someone is feeling this way without them expressing it to you. Therefore, you can educate yourself about the symptoms and warning signs pertaining to mental illness.
Some noticeable signs of depression are as follows:
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Poor school performance
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Irritability or anger
Knowing someone has anxiety is a little hard to figure out unless they tell you. They may fidget a lot and have nervous habits. Other than that you'll probably need to tell you in order for you to know.
Please if you have any of these thoughts, speak to someone regarding anxiety:
• Obsessive thinking, worry or fear
• Avoidance of activities that can make you feel anxious which can impact study, work, physical health, and social life
• Feeling tense, panic attacks, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, and restlessness
Seek professional help if this is affecting your everyday life. Always know that there is help out there for you no matter what you are going through. Many people start to experience this when transitioning into college due to the high levels of stress. From rooming situations to sleep and grades, there is a lot on someone's plate to carry during this time. It's okay to crash and burn, but just know that you can feel better.
If anyone you know is staring to act and/or feel this way, do your best to gently reach out to them and let them know you're here for them and want to listen.
On average 1,000 college students die per year from suicide. The suicide rate among young adults between the ages of 15-24 has tripled since the 1950s. What's the cause of this? How about the added stress of competitive grades, the economy, campus crime, acceptance rates, tuition, and bullying. Young people are more sensitive than we believe. We say we are fine and strong, but everyone has their breaking point.
Counseling services don't get advertised, like it's weak or looked down upon to have feelings. People always say to put your feelings away because feelings are for children and women only. This is especially prominent in young men. From sports to playing out in the field with your friends you're learned to "toughen up and brush it off!" at such a young age. It just so happens that men between the ages of 15-24 are four times as likely to commit suicide than women. While women are three times at likely to attempt suicide. It's okay to be sensitive and to feel. Don't bottle it up, talk to someone. May it be a close friend or therapist, there are people who care and are here for you.
Firearms are becoming more and more common. They also happen to be the most common method used by women and men. Be sure to know the warning signs of suicide here.
If we all come together and more openly talk about mental health it will become less of a taboo subject and for people to know it's okay and it's not their fault that they feel this way. If you are feeling this way, you didn't do anything wrong, but keep being you and seek professional help if you are feeling or thinking of anything related to the topics above.
