Her life looked ideal. She was a star track and soccer athlete, brilliant, loved by so many, and surrounded by a supportive family of seven. But on Jan. 17, 2014, University of Pennsylvania freshmen found herself too overwhelmed to deal with the pressures and demands of college, and she ended her life. Her parents found themselves in mounts of guilt as they felt they should have noticed the warning signs.

 

What many wish she would have known is that she was not alone. Mental illness among college students is much more common than we realize. It is very real and should be treated so.

 

In a society where students live under pressure with high expectations to do their best, mental health is often pushed to the side. This is especially true during finals season when grades become a priority.

 

https://infogr.am/mental_health_in_college_by_the_numbers

 

Mental illness such as depression, anxiety and grief has a tendency to be viewed as taboo or a stigma. Everyone knows it exists, but no one really talks about it. Very few are aware how much of a reality it is.

 

Senior Mattie Milliken shared her thoughts about mental health and said mental illnesses are often shrugged off with a simple response like, “I’ll be praying for you.”

 

“While that is foundational and important, it needs more intentional attention,” Milliken said.

 

So, why is mental illness so common among college students anyway?

 

Dr. Shauna Nefos Webb, a professor of counseling and psychology at Milligan, said that “traditional aged college students are in a transitional period of development, which brings some challenges, like trying to figure out one’s identity and belief systems while also trying to figure out a career path.”

 

It’s no wonder college is such a hard time. Students are in a stage in development that is so critical and formative to who they become, and the pressures of that fact alone along with maintaining an acceptable GPA leaves them very vulnerable to mental illnesses.

 

Webb also added that “our mental health is just as important as our physical health.”

 

It is important that students pay attention to themselves, emotionally, mentally and physically, especially during times of high stress. And self-care can vary person to person. A student, for example, might meet with a counselor, take a hike or do something creative.

 

Depression and anxiety are very much a reality and should not be ignored, but rather cared for and taken seriously.

 

As finals quickly approach, keep yourself as a priority. Your health is of more importance than your GPA. Take time to destress and surround yourself with people who will support you.

 

“If you need help, tell somebody. I know it can be scary, but there are many in this community who want to support you,” says Webb.