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I remember it like yesterday! Facebook was the newest thing, and you had to have a college email address to join. My friends and I were all obsessed with Asher Roth’s song “I Love College” and our new found freedom. Yes, I realize how much I’ve just aged myself, but some things remain the same no matter when you make that transition to college. 

And for most college newbies that transition comes with new worry and anxiety. All kinds of questions emerge–Can I do this? Will I be good enough? What happens if I fail? What are my core beliefs apart from my family and the friends I grew up with? Am I prepared enough for the world? 

For many students entering college the excitement and adrenaline that comes with starting a new adventure pushes all the aforementioned questions to the back of one’s mind. Then when the dust settles, your family leaves, and you’re sitting in a new place with new people and new expectations, those questions often come flooding back at overwhelming speed. 

It’s not uncommon for students entering college to experience anxiety, depression and, in some cases, panic. In fact, according to the Healthy Minds Study, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem during the 2020-2021 school year. It’s almost no wonder considering the challenges most college students now face, including political turmoil, economic crisis, environmental crisis, social injustice, mass shootings, and a post-pandemic world. 

Fortunately, it seems that college students today are aware of the importance of mental healthcare and are helping decrease stigmas around seeking help to learn healthy coping habits for stress, anxiety and depression. Some of these coping habits and strategies include:

1. Sleep hygiene, balanced diet, and daily physical activity
2. Staying social (not just virtually) and participating in on-campus clubs, activities and groups. Meeting up with friends over coffee or a meal
3. Journaling, mediating and reflecting 
4. Knowing the location of campus health and what services are offered

Even though the above list seems simple enough, when faced with the low motivation of depression or shutting down from the overwhelming feelings of anxiety or panic, knowing and doing can seem impossible. That’s when one powerful word that most people feel ashamed or afraid to use can be the difference between help and despair: ADVOCATE. Always remember that you are worthy of help, support and judgment-free care. Advocate for yourself; don’t let someone tell you that you’re fine if you know you’re not. You also don’t have to settle for the first mental healthcare provider you meet. If your values don’t align with the person that’s helping you, that’s OK—find someone new. What you want is someone you can feel safe and comfortable with, someone you can build a therapeutic relationship with so that you can talk about the hard things. 

If you’re a college student feeling stressed, anxious or depressed, don’t wait weeks or months to make an appointment with a professional mental healthcare worker. Look online and make some calls. And remember: Advocate for yourself!

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