College is an extremely stressful time. Exams are constantly
around the corner and the pressure to succeed is constant. Graduate schools and
future employers all expect high GPAs as well as numerous extra-curriculars. Is
all of the pressure that is placed onto college students too much for them to
take? Is their mental health being sacrificed in order to get the grade?
About 36% of college students have reported having some
level of depression. In fact, depression is the number one reason why students
drop out of college. Symptoms of depression include constant sadness, fatigue,
change in appetite, trouble concentrating, thoughts of death, etc. Sometimes in
college, it feels we are just going through the motions. Constantly juggling
coursework with clubs, work, sports and our social lives is challenging.
College can be a great time in life but it can also be an extremely stressful
time in life.
Everyone gets stressed out and anxious but what happens when
that anxiety gets to be too much? Anxiety disorders are the most common mental
illness in America. 75% of people affected with an anxiety disorder experience
their first symptoms before the age of 22. In other words, before they graduate
from college. Symptoms can include irritability, trouble concentrating,
fearfulness, fatigue, etc. There are many causes of stress in a college
student’s life, which can worsen the symptoms of anxiety.
Eating disorders are unfortunately most common on college
campuses. 25% of college women manage their weight by binging and purging. 91%
have dieted while in college. Most college students will not seek treatment for
their eating disorder, believing that they do not have a problem.
Questions for Research
Compared to other Universities, how does the University of
Michigan compare with rates of mental illnesses? Is the differences in the rate
of depression or anxiety between community college students and students
attending a university? How effective are resources such as CAPS?
Sources
http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/top-5-mental-health-problems-facing-college-students/
There is no doubt that college is an incredibly stressful time for students and if one chooses to attend future schooling such as graduate school or a professional school, the amount of stress only grows. Additionally, the effects that this stress has over prolonged periods of time has been strongly proven as poor on one's mental health. Much of this debilitating stress is as a result of the pressure to succeed. However, I would argue that much of this stress can be avoided in the pressure was no longer placed on succeeding but instead on learning. This may seem like an impossible task, but I feel was something that was accomplished, at least to some degree in my Montessori middle school. Here, the goal was much more about learning the information with an emphasis on the why as well, instead of just the how. Grades were given, but not stressed. Instead, the stress was placed in placing students in level classes that both suited their learning style, speed and ability for each subject. It would be a very difficult idea to initiate at a college level, but the pros and cons on the mental health and learning of students would make for a great discussion.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is extremely interested in Psychology, this post really hit home. I found the statistics to be extreme attention grabbers because they show the significance of disorders such as depression or anorexia nervosa. As Zac states in the comment above, it is obvious that going to college is more than just going to school. The transition to a new university can be extremely overwhelming. With so many new rules, expectations, and requirements, students are bound to experience changes to their overall wellbeing, specifically to their mental health. In your questions for further research, I was intrigued by the third one regarding the resources at The University of Michigan. Although I have never personally utilized the Counseling and Psychological Services offered here, I would also like to know how much these organizations help students in need. Also, I would like to look into how University of Michigan students with mental disorders address their conditions, and how the University accommodates for these issues.
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