Mental Health for College Freshman

No matter where you are heading off to college, the leap from highschool to college is a big deal. The transformation is exciting and full of opportunities, but is also often chaotic and stress inducing.

This giant transition marks crucial time for mental health problems to surface. 75 percent of mental health conditions begin before age 24, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. A 2016 UCLA survey found that 12 percent of college freshmen say they are frequently depressed. Likewise, the number of students seeking mental health services rose nearly 30 percent between 2009 and 2014, a Penn State University survey found.

With that being said, there are ways to help with the anxiety and mental health concerns of being a freshman college students:

1. Have a support system in place: Make regular calls or text with family members or good friends. These contacts can let you express your concerns and stress, and offers a vital lifeline, particularly during the first stages of freshman year.

2. Make friends in person: Not every pair of roommates with become best friends, and large lectures certainly seems impersonal. However, make an effort to find close friends in person rather than relying on social media. Extracurricular activities like clubs or intramural sports are a great way to do this.

3. STUDY PLAN!: Large chunks of unstructured free time combined with college workload can easily be material for disaster. So make a clear study plan and set aside time for the study plan. Knowing how and when to study is key!

4. Respect Your Body: Beyond the legal implications, the use of marijuana and alcohol can be particularly harmful to still-developing brains and can cause unpredictable results. So be careful. In addition, listen to signs of needing rest. Sleep is more important than one might think!

5. Ask for Help: Feeling better might not be as simple as making a few lifestyle shifts. Your college has counseling resources available to offer professional guidance; ask a resident adviser or visit the health services center for information. Asking for help proves that you are strong, not weak!

For more information, please reference this article.