From Stressed to Depressed--

The Rise of Mental Illness in

College Students
Mental health issues on college campuses
are increasing in number and severity.
By Erin Shugar

Think about the last time you asked one of your

friends how they are doing. They probably said
“I’m okay” or “I’m fine.” Despite their noncha-
lant answer, the harsh reality is that many college
students are struggling with mental illnesses such
as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders be-
hind the scenes. In fear of being looked at differ-
ently, college students put up a facade of being
okay, despite crumbling to pieces when alone.

A Bit of Background
While some students enter college with a history
of mental illness, many develop General Anx-
iety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and
other disorders while in university. College-aged
students are susceptible to developing men-
tal illnesses due to their age and developing
brains. Research shows that the most “high-risk
age group” for developing mental illnesses is
between 18 and 25, meaning mental illnesses
are more prevalent on campuses than in general
society (Cook 41).

College can be hard-- that’s no secret. But what

tips the scale from stressed to depressed? Com-
mon stressors for college students are moving
away from home, needing to make new friends,
taking harder classes than ever before, and
social pressures. What triggers mental illness is
different for everyone, as the extreme emotions
are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain
(Lyndon).
The Recent Rise
Mental illness is not a new issue, but the increas-
Photo by Erin Shugar. “Shutting It All Out”
ing reports of mental illness amongst college
students are quite alarming. Expressed by Linda
J Cook, an esteemed researcher at Brown Uni-
versity, many recent studies reported a large
increase in the number and severity of mental
illnesses in college students (40). Not only are
more college students than ever before reporting
mental health issues, but these issues are quickly
becoming crises.
The increasing rate of reported mental illness-
es can be explained by a few probable factors.
According to Cook, more people than ever
before are seeking a college education, but not
all young adults receive the proper emotional
support necessary as a teen to healthily cope
with stress (41). Furthermore, many students
come to college unprepared for the adjustment
to a high-stress environment. Overcommitment is
also a huge issue on college campuses that can
lead to mental health issues as students struggle
to juggle all of their various commitments.
Your Next Steps
While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why all college
campuses are seeing a notable rise in mental
illnesses, here’s what you should know and do.
Check-in on your friends. You never know how
someone is truly feeling unless you ask and
make it known you care. Support anyone going
through a tough time. Whether this means just
listening to them, giving them a hug, or recom-
mending they speak to a professional, people
need to feel heard. Lastly, validate them. With
Photo by Erin Shugar. “Breaking Under The Pressure”
mental illness, it can be hard for someone strug-
gling to believe that their feelings are valid.
Ensure a friend that they are not a burden on
you, that you care about them, and that their
problems are real problems. You never know ex-
actly how someone feels, and unfortunately, with
increasing mental illness, there are increasing
suicide rates (Cook 40).
If you or anyone in your life is struggling with
mental illness and is considering suicide, call
800-273-8255 at any time. You are loved, your
feelings are valid, and your life is worth living.
References:
Cook, Linda J, DNSc,R.N., B.C. “Striving to Help College Students with
Mental Health Issues.” Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health
Services, vol. 45, no. 4, 2007, pp. 40-4. ProQuest, https://ezproxy.elon.
edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/striving-help-
college-students-with-mental-health/docview/225538961/se-2?accoun-
tid=10730.
Lyndon, Amy E., et al. “College Students’ Stigmatization of People with
Mental Illness: Familiarity, Implicit Person Theory, and Attribution.” Jour-
nal of Mental Health, vol. 28, no. 3, 2019, pp. 255-259. ProQuest, dx.doi.
org/10.1080/09638237.2016.1244722.