Understanding Common Mental Health Issues Among College Students
Have you ever heard of mental health? What are some common mental health problems among college students? And how do they impact academic performance?
Mental health is health related to a person’s emotions or psychology. Mental health is a condition where the mood and mind are happy and fine. WHO (World Health Organization) also explains, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which individuals realize their potential, can cope with the pressures of life normally, can work productively and usefully, and are able to contribute to their community. Mental health also includes how to deal with stress, relate to others, and be able to adjust to the surrounding environment as well as related to decision-making.
Mental health is very important as it affects how we live our daily lives. In addition, mental health plays a big role in a person’s quality of life. Individuals with good mental health can make people around them feel happy. Also, mentally healthy people are able to relate well with family and friends; are more productive in carrying out daily activities; can cope better with stress and life pressures; and can make wiser decisions.
Then, can mental health problems common among college students?
They say being a college student is good, just bring a totebag to campus and then go home, is that true?
Apparently, mental health problems can occur in college students. Mental health problems that commonly issues among students include:
1. Eating Disorders
The first one is eating disorders. This is very common among students, whether they are new or old. This disorder can get worse if you don’t realize you have an eating disorder. Usually, this can happen because of the stress of the many tasks that must be completed or the final project that is usually experienced by old students.
2. Insomnia
Sometimes students do assignments and study late into the night. This habit can be bad for health. Lack of sleep can make it difficult to concentrate because the body and mind feel very tired.
3. Depression
According to the American Psychological Association, student mental health cases such as depression due to college have increased by 10% over the past ten years. Many things can make students depressed, one of which is because the competition in the world of lectures is very tight. This can make students not confident in their own abilities and it is not uncommon for some students to think that they do not have any abilities compared to their friends.
4. Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders cannot be underestimated because they can interfere with daily activities and make it difficult to live life as usual. Research proves that around 75% of people who have anxiety disorders generally show various symptoms before entering the age of 22, which means that students can experience anxiety disorders. There are several things that can cause students to experience anxiety disorders, one of which is due to academic pressure. It is not uncommon for students to be anxious about their final grades because it will affect academic activities in the next semester.
5. Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Many students are found with drug and alcohol abuse. Usually they consume alcohol and drugs if they are stressed but there is no escape until finally it is not uncommon for students to consume it excessively. This is a major and considerable problem because it has a negative impact, one of which is accidents and sexual harassment among students.
The many demands on students often cause mental health problems in students. How can students maintain their mental health well?
There are many ways for students to maintain their mental health well, including:
1. Invite someone close to you to talk.
Sometimes, talking to the closest person can make a little relief in the heart. Although not necessarily the problem that is being experienced can be resolved, but by talking to the closest person can make feelings improve.
2. Be active in exercising
Many underestimate exercise on the grounds of laziness. In fact, being active in sports not only makes you physically better, but psychologically as well. Exercise can reduce stress during college.
3. Try to have some me time
Watching movies, listening to music, or just going for a walk is considered me time. By doing me time, thoughts that are quite burdensome on the head can be distracted.
4. Organize your time well
Make a schedule for daily activities so that your meal schedule, sleep schedule, or study schedule is not disturbed so that your health can be maintained properly. Prioritize work with time management techniques that suit each of you.
5. Balanced Life
Try to live a balanced life between academics, hobbies, and personal schedule (including rest). Don’t over do it with one activity to be physically healthy and emotionally happy.
What is the impact of mental health on academic performance? Can our mental health issues be ignored when it comes to academic performance?
Health can have an impact on academic performance. For example, new students who still have to adapt to the environment are vulnerable to stress that affects academic achievement. It could be that when they were in high school, they had good grades but when they entered the world of college and had difficulty adapting, they did not get good grades. Therefore, do not underestimate the problem of mental health and the importance of good mental health in order to achieve satisfactory academic performance.
Nowadays, there is a lot of stigma around mental health, especially on social media. It is not uncommon for many to self-diagnose due to the growing stigma. How can we reduce the stigma surrounding mental health?
There are several ways we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, one of which is by increasing mental health literacy. By educating oneself and others about mental health, stigma can be reduced as more people understand about one’s mental state.
