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It is undeniable that college is a stressful time for students. According to the American College Health Association in 2014 over half of all students felt that they were under more than average stress. Stress can lead to eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and in horrific circumstances death. In 2014 8.1 percent of college students seriously considered suicide and 1.3 percent attempted suicide. In 2015 The National Center for Health Statistics predicts that there will be 20.2 million undergraduate students enrolled in a higher education institution. This means that over 1.6 million students will seriously considered suicide and over 200,000 students will attempt suicide in the year 2015. On top of that 33.2 percent of students felt too depressed to function and 54.7 felt overwhelming anxiety .
These staggering numbers are unacceptable and something needs to be done. But who is responsible for the mental health crisis facing students? Is it the universities they attend? Or are students responsible for their own well-being? Many institutions such as the University of Maryland (UMD) have professional counselors and psychiatrist that are available for students. They offer group therapy, individual therapy and relaxation technique training to students who are struggling to cope with the pressure and stress that accompanies college. In addition there are many different clubs, some nationwide, that are attempting to raise awareness about mental issues caused by stress.
But what is stress? Stress is “any environmental or physical pressure that elicits a response from an organism”. The sub-genre of stress that causes college students the most problems is chronic stress, which is “characterized by the persistent presence of sources of frustration or anxiety that a person encounters every day”. Chronic stress is a problem that many college students face, but help is available; sometimes you have to reach out for it and others times it will find you. In either case it is important that the symptoms of chronic stress are recognized and treatment is administered to prevent mental health issues.
These staggering numbers are unacceptable and something needs to be done. But who is responsible for the mental health crisis facing students? Is it the universities they attend? Or are students responsible for their own well-being? Many institutions such as the University of Maryland (UMD) have professional counselors and psychiatrist that are available for students. They offer group therapy, individual therapy and relaxation technique training to students who are struggling to cope with the pressure and stress that accompanies college. In addition there are many different clubs, some nationwide, that are attempting to raise awareness about mental issues caused by stress.
But what is stress? Stress is “any environmental or physical pressure that elicits a response from an organism”. The sub-genre of stress that causes college students the most problems is chronic stress, which is “characterized by the persistent presence of sources of frustration or anxiety that a person encounters every day”. Chronic stress is a problem that many college students face, but help is available; sometimes you have to reach out for it and others times it will find you. In either case it is important that the symptoms of chronic stress are recognized and treatment is administered to prevent mental health issues.
Alison K. Malmon"Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail."
-Ralph Emerson |
Renee Huffert"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone"
-Ronald Regan |
University of Maryland"Fearless Ideas"
-Testudo |
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