6.6 Mental Health¹

Knowing how to take care of your mental health when you’re in college is just as important as maintaining your physical health. In fact, there’s a strong link between the two: doctors are finding that positive mental health can actually improve your physical health.

So, what is “mental health?” Mental health can be defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community. Having good mental health doesn’t necessarily mean being happy or successful all the time. Most people feel depressed, lonely, or anxious now and then. When such feelings or moods persist and interfere with a person’s ability to function normally, though, it may be a sign of a more serious mental health problem and time to seek help.

Evidence has shown that mental disorders, especially depressive disorders, are strongly linked to the occurrence and course of many chronic diseases—including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity and many risk behaviors for chronic disease, such as physical inactivity, smoking, excessive drinking, and insufficient sleep. In other words, if your mental health is poor, you may be at greater risk for disease and poor physical health.

It’s important to remember that instances of anxiety and depression are normal for college students to experience and there are resources to support you while you experience them. Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that’s more than just a feeling of “being down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. It causes severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.

If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:

People with anxiety disorders respond to certain objects or situations with fear and dread. They have physical reactions to those events, such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating. Anxiety is more than feeling overwhelmed occasionally or nervous about an upcoming exam. It can even manifest in panic attacks or social phobias. Symptoms of anxiety can include:

Depression and anxiety are some of the most common mental disorders in the United States. They can be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression and anxiety, even the most severe cases, can be treated. The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is. They are usually treated with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. If you feel depressed or anxious for two weeks, or the feelings keep coming back, you should talk to a counselor in the health services/center. They see lots of students who are anxious, stressed, or depressed at college.

Get Help

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.TALK (8255). Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you think someone is in immediate danger, do not leave them alone—stay there and call 911.

Citations

1. Stress. Provided by: Lumen Learning. Located at: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-collegesuccess-lumen1/chapter/mental-health/. License: CC BY: Attribution.
2. Dillon, Dave. Blueprint for Success in College and Career. OER Commons. https://press.rebus.community/blueprint2/. CC BY 4.0.