Ending the Stigma: Mental Health and Student Life

Whether you find yourself nearing finals (as a student or a teacher), or perhaps you simply have a loved one in your life that is dealing with the unique challenges that come with education, most people are, in some way, shape, or form, confronted with the the fact that college can indeed be a stressful (albeit exciting and rewarding) time. However, studies show that although we are often aware of the difficulties associated with pursuing higher education, many people do not understand the depth to which mental health and function can be affected for so many students during this season of life. In fact, the Journal of Mental Health & Clinical Psychology found that “..in studies on mental health and stigma amongst college students, only about one-third of students with psychological disorders receive mental health treatment.” ¹ One-third! One might think that something so common in our society would be an ongoing, normalized, and open conversation, but unfortunately, stigmas surrounding mental health are still very real. By educating ourselves on mental illnesses, we can correct errors in our worldview surrounding mental health, both towards ourselves and towards others. As we align our points of view with the facts, we are much more prepared to fight the stigmas that keep students (and others!) feeling isolated in their fight with mental health.