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Emotional Health

Your emotional or mental health is an important component of your overall health. Particularly in the first year of college, some students have difficulty establishing positive relationships with others, dealing with pressure, or making wise decisions. Other students are optimistic and happy, and seem to believe in their own abilities to address problems successfully. Your ability to deal with life’s challenges is based on your emotional intelligence (EI); this book devotes a chapter to this topic, with tools for assessing your EI and strategies for improving it. Emotional intelligence is part of your personality; if you take a psychology course in college, you will learn more about it.

Taking care of your emotional health is a big part of maintaining wellness. When one’s emotional health declines, the consequences can be very serious.

Depression According to the American Psychological Association, depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the United States, affecting more than fifteen million adults. College students are at especially high risk for both depression and suicide because of the major life changes and high stress levels some of them experience during the college years.

Depression is not a weakness; it is an illness that needs medical attention. Many college students suffer from some form of depression. The feelings are often temporary and may be situational. A romantic breakup, a disappointing grade, or an ongoing problem with another person can create feelings of despair. Although most depression goes away on its own, if you or a friend has any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, it is important to talk to a health care provider:

feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
feeling useless, inadequate, bad, or guilty
self-hatred, constant questioning of one’s thoughts and actions
loss of energy and motivation
loss of appetite
weight loss or gain
difficulty sleeping or excessive need for sleep
loss of interest in sex
difficulty concentrating for a significant length of time

Suicide The CDC reports that students aged fifteen to twenty-four are more likely than any other group to attempt suicide. Most people who commit suicide give a warning of their intentions. The following are common indicators of someone’s intent to commit suicide:

recent loss and inability to let go of grief
change in personality—sadness, withdrawal, indifference
expressions of self-hatred
change in sleep patterns
change in eating habits
a direct statement about committing suicide (e.g., “I might as well end it all”)
a preoccupation with death

If you or someone you know threatens suicide or displays any of these signs, it’s time to consult a mental health professional. Most campuses have counseling centers that offer both one-on-one sessions and support groups for their students, usually for free.

Finally, remember that there is no shame attached to having high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, or suicidal tendencies. Unavoidable life events or physiological imbalances can cause such feelings and behaviors. Proper counseling, medical attention, and in some cases prescription medication can help students cope with depression and suicidal thoughts.

Difficulty Coping

Many events in life can trigger feelings of despair. Know the signs of depression. If you or someone you care about seems to be having trouble, reach out. College campuses have resources to help.

Cyberbullying In recent years, cyberbullying has been on the rise, not just in grade school and high school, but on college campuses as well. Experts define cyberbullying as “any behavior performed through electronic or digital media by individuals or groups who repeatedly communicate hostile or aggressive messages intended to inflict harm or discomfort on others.”³ According to a recent study, the prevalence of cyberbullying among college populations ranges from 10 to 28.7 percent.⁴ These may seem like low numbers, but cyberbullying can go unreported because of embarrassment or privacy concerns. Tragic cyberbullying stories that have resulted in the victim’s clinical depression or suicide have been reported in recent years.

Cyberbullying is a serious issue that harms individuals in many ways. It is a crime that should be dealt with immediately. If someone you know has experienced cyberbullying or if you have been a cyberbullying victim, you should report it as soon as possible. Several foundations and resources are available to help students report cyberbullying:

stopbullying.gov
The Megan Meier Foundation, meganmeierfoundation.org
National Crime Prevention Council, ncpc.org

Victimized by Cyberbullying?

Have you or a friend ever felt victimized by something someone posted about you on social media? It’s tempting to lash out with an equally negative post, but the best strategy is to disengage. Don’t let what others say or write about you define who you are, and don’t join them in the mud.

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Work Together

The Link between Cyberbullying and Suicide

Google college students and cyberbullying. As you read through the articles that you find, write down common triggers that seem to cause student suicide. Bring your notes to class and share them with other students in a small group. Discuss why college students are at risk for cyberbullying, depression, and suicide, and share ideas for what colleges and universities can do to decrease this risk.