By Ben Eskin
More than a quarter of the world’s population suffers from it. No case is the same; no story resembles another. Mental health: a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being is a major concern on college campuses, especially after the pandemic. When someone hears the term “mental health,” many are quick to throw out the terms stress and pressure, anxiety, and depression. While these are all aspects of mental health, four terms do not do this condition justice. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has been at the forefront of media outlets nationwide. Every time you flip on the news, you hear of someone battling a mental illness or trying to cope with the devastating loss of a family member or friend. While it should not have taken a nationwide pandemic for it to be “okay” or “acceptable” for people to talk about mental health issues, there is a great deal of important information we have learned because of it.
Without a doubt, there has been a significant increase in patients struggling with mental challenges since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020. According to a World Health Organization study in 2022, there has been a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. This is a massive increase that served as a wake-up call nationwide. While this statistic encompasses the entire world, college campuses around the country have been making mental health awareness and support a priority for thousands of students. Longtime Western New England psychology professor and licensed Massachusetts psychologist Dennis Kolodziejski had an interesting perspective on how mental health has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Most campuses are struggling to keep up with the new age of anxiety, depression, and stress. Especially with everything going on in the Middle East, we need to support those students who have been affected,” Kolodziejski stated.
Nobody could have predicted a nationwide pandemic, but the mental toll on first responders and frontline workers cannot be quantified. The bravery of these people should be highlighted more than it is. Students across the country were quarantined, from preschoolers to seniors in college. Having to stay at home and being cut off from friends was quite taxing on students of all ages. Kolodziejski makes it clear that many college students cope with bullying, at-home problems, job loss, and money struggles, while the news itself adds to mental health concerns.
“It used to be you had to read the newspaper or watch CBS news to hear of these horribly unsettling news items, but now with so much social media and cable news, it’s in our lives constantly, adding stress, fear, anger, tears, and sadness to our days,” Kolodziejski explained.
It is sad to think about the plethora of platforms that affect people’s perceptions of the world and current events. There are common myths regarding mental health that are spewed around by people unknowledgeable on the topic. The most common of the myths is that “mental health can’t and won’t affect me.” One in five American adults experienced a mental health condition in a given year, and one in six American young people have experienced a major depressive episode in their lifetime. Some say it is possible to “snap out of it” and “toughen up,” which is completely fictional. Mental health conditions have nothing to do with being lazy or weak, and many people need help to get better. Kolodziejski is confident that the most common misconception involves where mental health issues come from.
“The vast majority come from the environment, and only “appear” to reside and emanate from within the individual…in our world that can make us all crazy, there are many environmental stimuli, environmental stressors, acting on us at all times,” Kolodziejski said.
Allyssa Burby is an adjunct professor of Psychology and a Senior Counselor in the Center for Health and Well-Being at Western New England who provided some important perspectives on how colleges have increased counseling options for those struggling with mental health challenges. Counselors across the country have had to design new ways to reach these students and have services readily available in times of need. Burby has noticed waitlists filling up much more quickly than in years past.
“Waitlists have become overwhelming across all college campuses and referring to outside providers has also been difficult,” she said.
This causes stress not only for the patient but also for the counselors and providers who do everything in their capability to not turn down those needing help. Burby explained that in these cases, patients can be referred to outside providers, but even this method of counseling has become increasingly challenging.
“It is difficult to find providers taking new clients due to the aftermath of the pandemic and the mental health crisis that came from this prolonged period of isolation,” she stated.
Often, meeting with a counselor is a huge benefit for those struggling. Talking and getting our thoughts and feelings out are a big help for a lot of people, according to Burby. Finding the “right” safe space and safe person is crucial.
“Getting support for our mental health allows us to have a safe person to process our feelings and come up with solutions and instill hope in ourselves that things can get better,” she explained.
For many people, they are just looking for advice or guidance. Some may need some encouragement; others may be looking for direction. Burby advises keeping it simple and explains the importance of finding someone to talk to. They don’t necessarily have to be a counselor.
“Find a person who can provide you with an empathetic ear and show you unconditional regard, so you feel heard. Sometimes, all it takes is for one person to listen to find hope,” she said.
The world is full of troubling stories, violence, and struggles that weigh on us all. The hope is that college students’ struggles won’t fall on deaf ears.
