This blog post was written by Dr. Alexis Custard-Mobley, Counselor and member of the Clinical Advisory Board at Nivati. You can see more of their content on the Nivati platform and on the Nivati blog. If you want to learn more about Nivati, click here. 

‍Why College Student Mental Health is Plummeting

College can be an exciting, scary, and adventurous time for many college students. For your traditional college students, this may be the first time they have been away from home, family, or lived independently. For your non-traditional college students, this could be the first time they have had to conform to a new setting in a while. Either way, college can take a toll on one’s mental health due to the stress of the college education workload, separation anxiety from friends and family, and the stressors that new environments can bring. A recent study found that 1 in 3 college students encounter serious depression and anxiety.  College students can also experience mental health issues due to financial worries and the pressures of being successful. We live in a social media world that is often the epitome of how we feel we should be living our lives. Social media, pressure from family, friends, and unclear expectations often lead to confusion and added stress from trying to live up to the potential of where we think we should be. 

A study has linked heavy social media use to increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. The pressure of society mixed with new environments, lifestyle changes, learning new educational skills, learning new practical skills (such as how to manage your time as an adult), and not giving in to peer pressure can cause many conflicting feelings, which can lead to one’s mental health plummeting. One helpful thing to remember when working with college students is that college is a time of development. The human brain isn’t fully developed until around age 25. When you’re thinking, “Why did they do this?” The truth is, sometimes they knew what they were doing, and other times, they were not thinking rationally due to brain development. This is why it’s important to help college students navigate life stressors since this may be the first time they have ever had to do so on their own. 

What Mental Health Challenges Present Themselves in College Students 

Mental health challenges can appear in many ways when one is dealing with the stress of life and college. Some things to look for are:

• mood swings outside of the student’s normal character
• suicidal ideation or attempts of suicide
• eating disorders
• substance abuse activity
• a significant decline in one’s academic performance: class attendance, grades, etc.
• impulsiveness

Of course, these symptoms can occur due to other reasons; however, if there is a significant change in one’s character or you know the student is under a lot of stress, this is something to check in on and monitor.  The top three mental health problems are: substance use, anxiety, and mood disorders which can impact one’s life significantly. In a survey of 274 college institutions, 88% of counseling center directors stated an increase in “severe” psychological problems over the previous 5 years due to learning disabilities, self-injury, sexual assaults, eating disorders, and substance use.

Here are some things to note: 

• Anxiety can be caused due to exams, completing assignments, and other academic requirements. 
• One’s comfort zones are no longer familiar; therefore, they must learn new ways to cope. 
• Anxiety, as well as depression, can present through eating disorders and substance use. 
• Anxiety is frequent, intense, and persistent worry and fear about ordinary situations. 
• Substance use refers to the use of drugs or alcohol, including tobacco products, inhalants, and other substances that can be consumed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed into the body causing possible harmful effects or dependence. 
• Mood disorders include Bipolar disorder, Substance-induced mood disorders, Dysthymia, Major depression, and mood disorders linked to another health condition. 
• Symptoms of mood disorders include ongoing sadness, feelings of guilt, helplessness, and more. 

The above are all ways college students cope with mental health. There are also healthy coping mechanisms that college students may use such as reaching out to friends, family, or a mental health professional to talk. If this happens, please be sure to pay attention, listen to hear what they are really saying, and ask them how you can help vs. getting upset, trying to fix all of their problems, or listening to respond. Often a listening ear and knowing that they have you for support can make all the difference in a college student's life. 

What Colleges Can Do to Help 

There are many ways to help college students overcome mental health obstacles. If your college or university doesn’t have these programs or access, they can be created or outsourced to help strengthen your college or university. Some examples of ways to help are: 

• Offer a Mental Health or Wellness Program. 
• Offer Mental Health Days for Students. 
• Educate Staff and Faculty about Wellbeing. 
• Hold Educational Events on Student Mental Health. 
• Provide Financial Support and Education to students, families, and within the community. 
• Connect Students to Mental Health Resources. 
• Be Flexible with Students if the signs are there of one’s mental health plummeting. 

A mental health or wellness program can offer free services for full-time and part-time students at the University Counseling Center. Many universities have this service where one can walk in during campus hours to speak with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed or Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, Licensed Psychologist, Student Peer Intern, Licensed Martial & Family Therapist, Pastoral Counselor, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Guidance Counselor, or someone with a Master’s level degree trained to help with mild to severe mental health challenges. You can check out some of the descriptions of the various types of counselors here. These services can be free to anyone enrolled, including faculty and staff, and there can be an overnight hotline that offers virtual services if students do not live on campus or need to speak with someone in the middle of the night. 

Mental health days for students can consist of an on-campus fair which the community, university students, faculty, and staff are invited. During this time, you can educate everyone on mental health and resources. You could also allow students to participate in mental health activities for credit. 

Educating staff and faculty about wellbeing can take place at the mental health fair or at a continuing education program offered at the university or at a mental health clinic. With continuing education, providers can learn and stay updated on mental health topics, tips, and trends. Holding educational events on student mental health could involve bringing in a speaker for the university to discuss this topic, doing a presentation, and answering questions afterward. Providing financial support and education to individuals could consist of having financial aid counselors set time aside to discuss options with students and families in need. This time could also help them apply for financial aid, apply for scholarships, discuss grants, and educate them on different ways to alleviate financial stress.

Connecting students to mental health resources could be through websites, national or state agencies, local agencies, church resources, and more. There are numerous mental health and substance abuse resources available at one’s fingertips. Lastly, it is crucial to be flexible with students if their mental health is declining. This isn’t to say that anyone should receive special treatment but to beware of signs. Remember to check on all students as sometimes students can be good at hiding their challenges or may carry guilt and not want to ask for help because of fear of being a burden. Sometimes a ten to fifteen-minute daily or weekly check-in can make a significant difference in the lives of anyone dealing with mental health issues. 

Colleges and Universities can also help by discussing mental health more and normalizing it. Mental health has a negative stigma or reputation attached to it; therefore, many cultures do not want to be associated with it out of fear of being viewed as weak or incapable of dealing with their own problems. It may be hard to know who to trust or where to start for help. In these cases, having information about utilizing one’s health insurance or finding off-campus or virtual services can be beneficial. Sometimes students may worry about confidentiality or if someone sees them walk into the counseling center. If this is a concern, find ways to help protect their privacy and get them help.

Here are some final tips to working with students dealing with mental health troubles: 

• Ask what they would like. 
• Ask how you can help and try to deliver within reason. 
• Use your best judgment; if something seems off or over your understanding, seek understanding from a professional to better help the student. 
• Remember to listen. 
• Try not to judge, be biased, or give your opinion on what works best for you. Sometimes it’s about what is best for the person, as we are all different. 
• Keep a list of hotlines somewhere you can easily access in case the student needs more support than you can offer. 
• Be calm, professional, and empathetic.

Disclaimer

By participating in/reading the service/website/blog/email series on this website, you acknowledge that this is a personal website/blog and is for informational purposes and should not be seen as mental health care advice. You should consult with a licensed professional before you rely on this website/blog’s information. All things written on this website should not be seen as therapy treatment and should not take the place of therapy or any other health care or mental health advice. Always seek the advice of a mental health care professional or physician. The content on this blog is not meant to and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.