May is the month of a number of things: finals, graduation and the start of four glorious months of freedom. However, many may not know that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Studies have shown that one in four people 18 and older lives with a mental disorder.
“Typically symptoms of mental illness manifest themselves between the ages of 18 and 24,” Debbie Woodrick Hall, community relations director at the North Mississippi State Hospital, said.
(Graphic by: Cameron Brooks)
Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders among college students. According to Mental Health America, more than 21 percent of adults between 18-64 will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in a given year. That is more than 42.5 million people.
Anxiety can cause shortness of breath, heart palpitations or trouble sleeping. They may also have exaggerated worries about everyday life, anticipation that the worst outcome to a situation will happen even if it is unlikely or rituals that seem impossible to control.
Individuals with anxiety have said that it feels like “everything is happening all at once” and “never being able to truly relax.”
“Common types of anxiety disorders include panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, etc,” Hall said. “One of the best ways to tackle anxiety is to call someone you trust and ask them to stick with you through the anxiety attack.”
(Graphic by: Cameron Brooks)
Another common disorder college students may face is depression. Nearly 15.7 million adults had a major depressive episode in 2014, enough people to fill up every major league baseball and football stadium in the United States four and a half times, according to the non-profit Mental Health America
Depression can cause feelings of extreme sadness or loneliness, increased irritability or trouble focusing. The mind isn’t the only thing affected. Those with depression may have trouble starting or finishing everyday tasks, start to withdraw from social activities, feel constantly tired or have a change in their weight.
People have said that having depression feels like you are “drowning and no one sees it, and you feel helpless against the water around you” or “all you want is to go home and just curl up and fall asleep forever.”
“It is extremely important for students to be aware of the signs of serious, or clinical, depression because this often leads to suicidal thoughts,” Hall said. “Approaching a friend or fellow student who shows these signs and encouraging them to seek help is more often than not a life-saver for that person.”
Substance abuse and addiction is the third most common mental illness among young adults. Those with substance abuse may have changes in personality, declining grades or a lack of motivation and energy. When alcohol or drugs are abused, it can often lead to depression or other mental illnesses.
“Because symptoms of mental illnesses often start to manifest during the college years, it can be frightening to the young adult,” Hall said. “Rather than seeking professional help, the student will often turn to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. This combination of mental illness and substance abuse is dangerous, because the two feed off each other, one making the other worse and vice versa.”
With the stress of finals coming up in the next few weeks, maintaining your mental health is the key to success. Exercising, having a healthy diet, getting plenty of rest (even though it can be tempting to pull all-nighters to finish that dreaded paper) and relaxing are important for overall success.
If you feel you need to talk with someone, contact our University Counseling Center at 662-915-3784 or the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s 24/7 hotline at 1-877-210-8513.
