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Your college years are an exciting time of growth, change, and challenges. To manage all this, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of your mental health—and how to take care of it.
Understanding Your Mental Health
Your mental health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being, affecting how you think, feel, and behave. It influences your ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. When you are mentally strong, you can recognize your abilities, cope with everyday stresses, be productive, and make a positive contribution to those around you.
Here are a few guidelines to strengthen your mental health:
- Build a solid foundation. Your mental health is deeply intertwined with other aspects of health, including your physical, emotional, and social well-being. You can strengthen your mental health simply by taking good care of these other aspects of health.
- Be aware of your risks. Your age is a major risk. About half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 24. Genetics also plays a role. Be aware of your family’s mental health history and behavioral health challenges. Greater awareness leads to earlier action.
- Manage stress proactively. Begin with self-care and building healthy personal habits that support your everyday life. Build and maintain supportive relationships with friends and family. Create nurturing surroundings by maintaining your dorm room or apartment, and keeping up with everyday tasks. Develop an adaptable mindset and helpful coping strategies, like time management and prioritizing.
- Recognize the signs and symptoms. Diagnosing mental health conditions is not always straightforward. Unlike physical conditions that can be confirmed with a test or imaging, mental health conditions are diagnosed by their signs, symptoms, and medical history. Be aware of the following:
- Persistent sadness or mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Excessive worry, fear, or panic
- Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or oversleeping)
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Unexplained aches, pains, or digestive issues
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs to cope
If you recognize these symptoms, it’s important to reach out for help. Your Assistance Program can help you manage your mental health and address life’s many other challenges. Services are free, confidential, and available to you and your family members. You can access them 24/7 by visiting Member Support.
