Depression and anxiety are the leading mental health issue for college students; stress leads to academic disruption

Roughly 18 percent of American adults are affected by an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). That’s forty million people, in the United States alone. 75 percent of this population say that they have experienced their first episode of anxiety before the young age of 22. Most college students are between the ages of 18 and 24, and because of their setting, they are more likely to develop mental health issues than older age groups. In 2008, Associated Press and mtvU survey of college students found that at least 13 percent of students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder or depression. At least 80 percent of students experience frequent stress or encounter stress on a daily basis in their lives. This stress affects not only the mental health, but can affect other aspects of daily life, if not properly treated.

The Rise of Depression and Other Mental Illnesses in Schools

Recently, depression has been increasingly common among students. In a recent survey of 765 people (59 percent being current students) conducted by National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), depression was the number one type of illness reported. It's not unusual for one to have more than one mental illness simultaneously. It’s also dangerous because mental health issues affect the brain and one’s way of thinking and they can co-occur with other issues. For example, it’s common for someone with anxiety issues to also suffer depression. Other diagnoses of illnesses that make up 12 percent are borderline personality disorder, dysthymia, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), schizoaffective disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Just because you can’t see mental health issues out the outer appearance doesn’t mean that they are inferior to physical health issues. As a matter of fact, people which mental health issues require just as much attention as people with other issues. According to the ADAA, people with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to visit the doctor than people who do not have an anxiety disorder.

How Mental Health Problems Affect Students

There are many factors that contribute to the development of mental health issues in young adults. Stephanie Rivero, Assistant Coordinator of the CARE to Stop Violence program at the University of Maryland, shares effects that mental health issues have on students.

Many young adults are students who transition into college after grade school in their hometown. The transition is not always easy, and it is a stress factor to some students. Even the infographic below presented by onlinecollegeclasses.com outline that adjusting to college life is the biggest cause of stress for students based on a 2010 national survey of college freshmen. Transitioning into a new environment and meeting new people can be hard for some students. Because they’re surrounded by unfamiliar faces, it may be hard to share their thoughts with others.

Not all students are like this, but the students that get stressed from school are at more risk. When stress builds up, it can lead to other issues such as academic distress, decreased social activity, or even thoughts of dropping out of college.



Students Who Have Positive Mental Health

Not all students are suffering from anxiety, depression, and ADHD. In the 2010 national survey of college freshmen, 52 percent of college freshmen reported that their emotional health is above average. The percentage has decreased significantly since 1985, when it was 64% of freshmen. In the future, the percentage is expected to decrease again.



How Students can get Help as Treatment

All universities and colleges want their students to have the most positive college experience possible. In order for students to be content, it starts from their emotional state of well-being. Many universities and colleges across the nation offer help to those students who want help improving their mental health state, or just want someone to talk to. The Health Center at University of Maryland has a mental health department designed to help students who are struggling with issues or they might just want to vent. Stephanie Rivero talks about some of the help options available at the Health Center.

To Students Who Are Struggling

In a college setting, many students are constantly pressured to do work. With the superfluous number of papers, projects, quizzes, and exams that we have in a semester, it’s amazing how we manage to graduate. It’s just a part of the learning process, some might say, but to some it’s one of the biggest obstacles in life. Due to the extreme volume of work given to students in a semester, many students develop issues that contribute to their mental health in a negative way. Some of the most prevalent problems are: anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Because of the diverse number of students on campuses, students tackle these issues in different manners.

It’s important for students to seek help because if they don’t, it is likely that their academics or social skills will deteriorate due to the negative thoughts that they feel. In many cases, you may not even be able to tell that your friend or classmate is struggling through these symptoms, and it’s a hard subject to openly talk about. Many students will use insufficient time as an excuse, but if they really need help, they should seek help so that they don't make it harder on themselves.