Editorial: On campus mental health and well-being

Pressure on middle and high school students in the United States has rarely been so intense. Last week, The Atlantic magazine ran a story titled "The Absurdity of College Admissions," detailing the duress and competitiveness that characterizes the mental state of students. The anecdotes weren't pretty. The American College Health Association reported in 2014 that nearly one in six college students (14.3 percent) had been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety. The same survey found that 21.8 percent of students said that within the last 12 months, anxiety had negatively impacted their academic performance--up from 18.2 percent in 2008. On our own campus, students have been working hard to bring attention to and destigmatize mental health. Central to this is the idea that mental health is as valuable a part of well-being as physical care.

Other mental health issues such as depression and social anxiety have also reportedly been on the rise on college campuses. The effects of anxiety and depression does not only hinder performance in the classroom, but can also cause students to lose hope altogether. A 2011 national survey shows that more than 62 percent of students who withdrew from college did so for reasons pertaining to mental health issues.

Although the number of students experiencing mental health concerns has been rising, many still do not seek help. Part of the problem is the societal stigmatization surrounding mental health issues, where anxiety, depression and related disorders are considered less legitimate than physical ailments because they are not manifested in the same ways. This societal outlook is a huge setback for the many students who suffer in silence, believing that what they are going through is a burden they must bear alone. Students may also delegitimize their own problems or feel that they must be going through something extremely traumatic and “serious” in order to seek out help.

This is not the case -- research has shown that verbalizing feelings can have a significant therapeutic effect on the brain. Anyone can benefit from counseling and mental health services available on campus, regardless of the nature of their concerns. Tufts offers free and confidential appointments with counselors who can help students through a variety of issues. Counseling and Mental Health Services offers many different avenues to help students, including individual counseling, groups, workshops and animal-assisted therapy. 

When thinking about mental health, as well, it is important to consider the political aspects of it -- namely, access. Not everyone in our community, let alone our world, has access to counselors, or the time off necessary to recover and recalibrate. When we think about mental health, it's necessary to consider how not only class but also race, sexuality and gender impact upon mental health services.

Daily life on campus can get chaotic and overwhelming, when midterms, family life, friendships and clubs collide. Addressing mental health issues is a fundamentally important way in which we can improve the academic, social and personal lives of ourselves. For all of us, those who struggle with mental health and those who do not, destigmatizing discussion of mental health with friends, family and coworkers is crucial.