College is a new experience that creates great opportunity for the ambitious to construct their own manifest destiny; an independent successful life that is often dependent on the pursuit of higher education. For some, college life is jam-packed with excitement, risks and responsibilities that foster learning new things, meeting new people and making your own decisions. For others, the ability to connect socially with peers is hindered by academic pressures with unique stressors they have never experienced before, isolating students from forming support systems and seeking treatment. As young adults transition from high school to college they are at higher risk for developing mental illness as they experience a continuing increase in the
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Interventions aiming to improve mental well-being of college students should include both effective education and prevention programs that promote participation in sport to foster healthy social interactions and support systems. It is critical for college undergraduates as well as college bound high school students receive “early and effective education as to catalyst to aid in the promotion positive emotional health from not only the institution but social between peers (Barbour).” As students enter freshman year of college they embark on a journey that calls for a significant transition that can involve creating a whole new life style, friendships, roommates and alternative ways of thinking. On the other hand being away from the comforts of home and in the new environment of a college campus can leave students feeling venerable and even inadequate or not prepared to cope with unique stressors they’ve never experienced before. During the last decade anxiety and depression have become the more commonly treated mental disorders however there are equally serious problems with substance abuse, sexual abuse, self-injury and eating disorders becoming more common mental health issues on college campuses. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was established in 1979 to form an organization …show more content…
Advanced placement tests and AP credited courses add additional stress by asking high school students to compete approved college level courses while trying to juggle extracurricular activities expected by college admission boards. According to the New York Times article More College Freshmen Report Having Felt Depressed more than 15,000 students nationwide complete a survey that reflected that, “high school seniors face an increased pressure to get into college compared to previous years that result in students coming into college with higher levels of anxiety (Schwarz).” In college the palpable pressure to do well creates competition to recently become much more significant. Although some students can handle this pressure in an effective fashion the increasing number of undergraduates whom cannot puts a grate strain on the available resources to accommodate the growing numbers. NAMI advocates, “the demand for mental health services within the college community is expected to increase in the next several years and that increased enrollment alone is justification for expanding and enhancing mental health services and support available on college campuses (NAMI).” The college lifestyle is changing as the opportunity to pursue a higher education is becoming more
Interventions aiming to improve mental well-being of college students should include both effective education and prevention programs that promote participation in sport to foster healthy social interactions and support systems. It is critical for college undergraduates as well as college bound high school students receive “early and effective education as to catalyst to aid in the promotion positive emotional health from not only the institution but social between peers (Barbour).” As students enter freshman year of college they embark on a journey that calls for a significant transition that can involve creating a whole new life style, friendships, roommates and alternative ways of thinking. On the other hand being away from the comforts of home and in the new environment of a college campus can leave students feeling venerable and even inadequate or not prepared to cope with unique stressors they’ve never experienced before. During the last decade anxiety and depression have become the more commonly treated mental disorders however there are equally serious problems with substance abuse, sexual abuse, self-injury and eating disorders becoming more common mental health issues on college campuses. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) was established in 1979 to form an organization …show more content…
Advanced placement tests and AP credited courses add additional stress by asking high school students to compete approved college level courses while trying to juggle extracurricular activities expected by college admission boards. According to the New York Times article More College Freshmen Report Having Felt Depressed more than 15,000 students nationwide complete a survey that reflected that, “high school seniors face an increased pressure to get into college compared to previous years that result in students coming into college with higher levels of anxiety (Schwarz).” In college the palpable pressure to do well creates competition to recently become much more significant. Although some students can handle this pressure in an effective fashion the increasing number of undergraduates whom cannot puts a grate strain on the available resources to accommodate the growing numbers. NAMI advocates, “the demand for mental health services within the college community is expected to increase in the next several years and that increased enrollment alone is justification for expanding and enhancing mental health services and support available on college campuses (NAMI).” The college lifestyle is changing as the opportunity to pursue a higher education is becoming more