Mental health awareness is growing on college campuses. As the stigma of mental health conditions has begun to decline, more and more students are taking steps to seek out counseling and other psychological services at their schools, revealing the true extent of these troubling issues.

The college environment can be a tumultuous time for young adults, and today’s students are subject to many social factors that can affect their stress levels, their vulnerability to mental health difficulties, and the severity of these conditions.

The 10 common warning signs:

• Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than 2 weeks (e.g., crying regularly, feeling fatigued, feeling unmotivated)
• Seriously trying to harm or kill oneself or making plans to do so
• Severe out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or others
• Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart, physical discomfort or fast breathing
• Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or weight gain
• Seeing, hearing or believing things that are not real (e.g. hearing voices or seeing someone who is not really there)
• Repeated use of drugs or alcohol
• Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits (e.g. waking up early and acting agitated)
• Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that puts a person in physical danger or causes school failure
• Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities like hanging out with friends or going to classes

Take Action

The good news is, most people with mental illness live full and normal lives with proper treatment. The trick is to get help before the illness progresses to a point that causes additional harm.

How to help:

Share Your Concerns

Share what you’re concerned about with your friend using nonjudgmental “I” statements.

• “I’ve noticed you’re [sleeping more, eating less]. Is everything okay?”
• “I’ve noticed that you aren’t acting like yourself. Is something going on?”

Offer Support

Support takes a lot of forms, from finding professional help to day-to-day tasks

• “Do you want to make an appointment with a counselor? Can I help you make an appointment or go with you to the counseling center?”
• If you don’t know how to help, ask, “What do you need to feel better right now?”

Reach Out to Someone You Trust

It’s important to take care of yourself, too, so you may want to seek advice from or talk to a:

• Family member
• Counseling center staff member
• Professor

Websites

NAMI Stigma-Free Campus

College Anxiety and Depression

5 Do's and Dont's of Dealing with Other's Mental Illness [youtube]

Kern County
Crisis Hotline: 1-800-991-5272
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Substance Use Division Access Line: 1-866-266-4898

Ridgecrest CSU
Medical center in Ridgecrest, California
Address: 1141 Chelsea St, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Open 24 hours
Phone: (760) 463-2880

Mono County Behavioral Health
Mental health clinic in Mammoth Lakes, California
Address: 452 Old Mammoth Rd #304, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Hours: Closes 6PM
Phone: (760) 924-1740

Inyo County-Health & Human Services
Public health department in Bishop, California
Address: 162 Grove St, Bishop, CA 93514
Phone: (760) 872-1727