Mental health is extremely important to take care of because it can affect an individual’s everyday life, and it can range from stress to disorders.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of five Americans has a mental health disorder. Most cases can be treated in various ways, but only about half of people with mental health disorders actually receive help, and even less do so if they are a young adult or college-age.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 75 percent of lifetime cases of mental health conditions begin before age 24. In addition to this, more than 80 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do in the past year; 45 percent of those felt that things were hopeless.
A few options in treatment include medications, counseling and therapy. If a person has any form of a mental health disorder, it is important to seek out help to prevent it from getting worse.
Psychology Today points out that in modern times, the suicide rate has increased in young adults, many of whom suffered from mental health disorders. The stress levels in college only add to everything else happening in an individual’s life, making mental illnesses more prevalent in younger generations.
There are many common illnesses that affect college students nationwide. Learn Psychology states the most frequent mental health issues are depression, stress, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD and sleep problems.
Students can help alleviate stress on their own in various ways. Mayo Clinic suggests exercise, meditation or yoga, spending time with close friends, writing thoughts down in a journal, listening to music, eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep.
Elizabethtown College has various options to help students on campus. Counseling Services is located in the Baugher Student Center, room 216. The counselors there work with students with mental health issues. They also set up appointments or allow students to walk in if they have an emergency that needs to be addressed.
For the hours they are not open, including the weekends, students in need of emergency counseling may contact Campus Security at 717-361-1111 to speak with the on-call counselor.
The College recently hosted programs and events for Mental Health Week. Wednesday, Feb. 6, the Office of Student Wellness sponsored the “Shake the Winter Blues” event. It included tabling events that discussed the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression. They also talked about ways to destress and have fun in the winter, when SAD is most common.
Friday, Feb. 8, Student Wellness began the “Tomorrow Needs You” campaign, which is about suicide prevention and ways to help those in need. Posters from the “Tomorrow Needs You” campaign could be found around campus until Thursday, Feb. 15, with places to write down encouraging messages to faculty, staff and students.
