Many students, as they near the end of their final year of high school, may feel a lot of anticipation and excitement to finally graduate and enter their first year of university. There are numerous thoughts that run through the minds of students as they step into a new stage in their lives. Some may look forward to more freedom and independence – getting to make their own decisions, exploring entirely new events and initiatives, and meeting new people. Others may be eager to begin the transition into adulthood and to start fresh, away from those familiar five years of high school.
Then, when university hits and has finally sunk in after a few days, weeks, and months even, that is when some students may begin to realize how overwhelmed they have become. The breaking point could be getting back that mid-term exam mark and being immersed in disappointment. It could be looking at that schedule and feeling that there is barely any down time to relax or even sleep for a decent amount of hours. It could be feeling alone and unable to feel a sense of belonging on campus or to find a passion that they would like to pursue in the future. It could be feeling the immense pressure to do well in a highly competitive field and reach expectations while attempting to balance a great amount of other responsibilities at the same time. Whatever it is, many university students may feel the difficulty of coping with various obstacles that seem to be continuously thrown in their way. Students often struggle with maintaining a positive outlook and good mental health around this period in their own lives.
In fact, in a study involving multiple schools in the United States, Cornell psychologist Janis Whitlock found that 7.5 per cent of students who began university with no previous experience of mental illness have developed symptoms (Lunau, 2012). Five per cent of those who did have a history with mental illness in the past were found to have seen with an increase in symptoms during their time in university (Lunau, 2012). Although these numbers may seem small, in the grand scale of things, it still affects a number of people considering the vast amount of thousands of total students within a single university. It is of great significance to take action and support those who may be going through a challenging time in their lives.
There are a wide range of resources on site at the UBC campus that can provide support to students who need any help or someone to talk to. The Alma Mater Society provides a service called Speakeasy for students who are facing challenges related to depression, relationship problems, anxiety, and more. Speakeasy volunteers are there to listen to what students have to say regarding stressful situations they may be experiencing in a supportive and non-judgemental environment. The Wellness Centre is another resource where students can drop by to ask any questions they may have regarding maintenance of well-being including stress management and eating and sleeping better. More resources can be found on the UBC MHAC blog and on the “Learn to Live Well” UBC students webpage (http://students.ubc.ca/livewell).
University is an experience that is full of obstacles, stress, and occasions that may take a toll on not only one’s health physically, but mentally as well. However, resources are available around campus whenever students would like to seek advice or a bit of guidance and support throughout their time at university. Despite the reality that there are challenges in this chapter in life, each day is a new day – remember that there are more positive and brighter times ahead as well.
Written by Michelle Huynh
References:
Lunau, Kate. “The Mental Health Crisis on Campus.” Macleans.ca. Rogers Media, 05 September 2012. Web. 25 October 2015.