7.4 Taking Care of Your Mental Health
Questions to consider:
- What is mental health?
- How can I take care of it?
The World Health Organization ranks mental health conditions as the leading cause of disability in the United States. One in four adults experiences a diagnosable mental health disorder in any given year, yet more than half will not seek treatment. The primary reason people don’t seek the help they need is shame and fear of judgment from friends, family, and coworkers. It is important to remove any stigma associated with mental health and encourage those who need help to seek support.
What Student Say
The graph below shows survey results of what college students feel are the most significant health issues they face.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is “the level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness. It is the state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment.”
According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood. The condition may affect a person’s ability to relate to others and function throughout the day.
A mental health condition isn’t the result of one event; it is most often the result of multiple overlapping causes. Environment, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition can all be factors in whether someone develops a mental health condition. Traumatic life events or stressful experiences may make some people more susceptible, and brain biochemistry may play a role as well. Mental health conditions show up in many ways. Anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are some of the most common conditions.
Anxiety Disorders
We all experience the occasional feelings of anxiety, which is quite normal. New situations, meeting new people, driving in traffic, and public speaking are just a few of the common activities that can cause people to feel anxious. It is important to seek help when these feelings become overwhelming, cause fear, or keep us from doing everyday activities. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States, and while there are many types of anxiety disorders, they all have one thing in common: “persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening.” Physically, your heart may race, and you may experience shortness of breath, nausea, or intense fatigue. Talk with a mental health care professional if you experience a level of anxiety that keeps you from your regular daily activities.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are not uncommon among students. Stress or anxiety may lead some students to overeat, while others may develop concerns about body shape or weight and significantly reduce their food intake.
Anorexia nervosa is a potentially fatal illness characterized by self-starvation. People with anorexia usually have an irrational concern about body shape or weight and follow a very restricted diet. They may also feel the need to exercise all the time, even when they are sick or exhausted.
Binge eating is the frequent consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time. Bulimia involves cycles of excessive eating followed by eliminating food through vomiting or the use of laxatives. Eating disorders can lead to many complications, some of which are very serious, such as heart conditions and kidney failure. It is crucial for anyone with an eating disorder to stabilize their health with medical care and counseling to achieve full recovery. Eating disorders can be treated successfully with medical care, psychotherapy, counseling, or coaching.
If you think you might have an eating disorder, visit a doctor or reach out to the Advocacy Center or Wellness 360 clinic on campus.
Depression
Most people feel sad at times. This is a normal reaction to the losses or struggles we face. Being sad is not the same as having depression. When intense sadness lasts for several days or even weeks, and you are no longer interested in activities you once enjoyed, it may be depression. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function both at work and at home.
Depression does not have a single cause. It can follow a life crisis or physical illness, but it can also occur spontaneously. Several factors, including trauma, a significant life change, brain injury, and drug and alcohol misuse, may contribute to depression. Depression is a treatable medical condition. Talk with a mental health care professional if you experience an ongoing level of sadness that keeps you from your regular daily activities.
Suicidal Behavior
People who contemplate suicide often experience a deep feeling of hopelessness. They may often feel they can’t cope with challenging life events and are unable to see solutions to problems. In the moment, they may not realize that the challenges are only temporary. Most survivors of suicide attempts go on to live wonderful, full lives.
Depression is one risk factor for suicide, along with substance abuse, chronic debilitating pain, mental health disorders, and a family history of suicide.
These are some of the warning signs that can help you determine if a friend or loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event:
- talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
- looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
- talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- talking about being a burden to others
- increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- sleeping too little or too much
- withdrawing or isolating themselves
- showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- extreme mood swings
If you or someone you know shows warning signs of suicide, get help as soon as possible. Family and friends are often the first to recognize warning signs and can help take the first step in finding treatment. If someone tells you that they are going to kill themselves, do not leave them alone. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 988 (call or text).
Additional Resources
Because entering college is such a significant transition, it is important to know what health services are available on your campus. Remember, the Student Advocacy Center and Wellness 360 are available at San Antonio College – 210-486-1111.
Quick Quiz 7.3
- What are some of the mental health challenges that can negatively affect success in college?
- What are ways to address mental health problems?