You are not your Disease

Mental Health Awareness at the University of Nevada, Reno

Finals week is here at the University of Nevada, Reno, for most students this implies sleepless nights, heavy study sessions, last minute research papers, and endless amounts of stress weighing down on their shoulders.

At UNR, events in regards to mental health are put together by the resident halls and other clubs here on campus. Freshmen dorm, Argenta Hall, provided information on what mental illness is, and how to cope with it during their Mental Health Awareness Fair.

Emily Sanger, a student at UNR as well as an in training Resident Assistant, helped run the Mental Health Awareness Fair in Argenta’s lobby with other RA’s.

“It was a good experience. We had a day where students could come into the lobby and ‘paint their stress away’. We had pins, and different guides on how to cope with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues,” Sanger says.

The Mental Health Awareness Fair was meant to take some stress off of students for a bit, and be a relaxing and fun way for them to learn about these mental health issues as well, as take their mind off things for a bit.

“A lot of students came which was so exciting! I think students should know about these kinds of health problems in order to help themselves and friends,” explained Sanger.

For UNR freshmen, Christopher Macias, finals are already happening, and the stress is hitting hard.

“We’re all anticipating going home for the summer, and we just want to finish finals week with good grades,” Macias says.

Students and counselors at UNR say that the stress that is put on them by parents, professors, and even themselves during finals week can increase other mental health issues, like anxiety or depression.

Director of the counseling services at UNR, Cindy Marczynski, claims that students with anxiety and depression problems sometimes abandon the coping strategies that have worked well for them because they think they have no time for sleeping, eating, etc. during finals.

For some students, finals add additional stress and pressure to lives that are already perhaps stressed and pressured. This can intensify pre-existing problems with depression or anxiety, as well as challenge coping resources, such as exercise, sleep, and healthy eating that might normally help them maintain health and emotional balance.

“I already suffer from certain mental health conditions, and finals week makes it worse because of all the sleepless nights. All the stress definitely takes a toll on your body too,” Macias says.

According to Active Minds, which is a non-profit organizations that is educating college campus’ about mental health issues, more than 80 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do in the past year and 45 percent have felt things were hopeless.

“For individuals prone to depression and/or anxiety, managing and even bolstering typical coping strategies before a final is really wise. Waiting until the last minute to get help may significantly reduce the options for help,” Marczynski says.

Lack of sleep can result in anxiety, but for most students the decision they make is either not studying and getting sleep, or studying and losing more than a couple of hours of sleep.

“I cram study,” admits Macias, “I have a job, and sometimes other extracurricular activities, as well as more important assignments to take care of, so I have no choice but to stay up late to study,” he says.

There’s a constant juggle for students when it comes to sleep, studying, and other factors, such as socializing.

Every student wants the full ‘college experience’, and they’re figuring out now how difficult it is to balance everything at once.

“College is hard, and as stressful as it was, it’s shown me what I really am capable of, and I, as well as every other college freshmen should feel really proud of what we pulled off our first year,” Macias says.

The University of Nevada, Reno, offers many different counseling services to those in need of help. They also offer quick and accessible self-care help on their webpage for anyone to use.