What does mental health mean?
According to the World Health Organisation, “mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.” It’s a critical part of overall wellness.
Mental health is about how you feel and deal with things in life. If your mental health improves, you can handle problems and stress and get past issues. Your mental health will also affect the people you hang out with and your motivation to do well in university.
Many things, like genetics, family background, experiences, environment, and more, can affect a person’s mental health. Doing things you can control can improve your mental health, no matter what your mental health is like right now.
What are Mental Health Issues in university students?
The National Alliance on Mental Illness says that more than 75% of mental illnesses begin before the age of 24.
Depression: Everyone with depression looks and feels differently, but some of the things that most people share are having feelings that they can’t control, being tired, having suicidal or death thoughts, and feeling lost or sad all the time.
Thoughts of suicide: Thoughts of suicide don’t happen with signs. Ask for help if you feel stuck or can’t go on. Help someone you know who needs it.
Anxiety: A lot of people feel anxious sometimes, but when worry and pressure build-up, anxiety can get out of hand. Anxiety can cause you to sweat, have headaches, have trouble focusing, feel stressed, have an upset stomach, shortness of breath, or be irritable.
Why mental health should be a priority at university
Taking care of your mental health while you are in university is essential. One of the most important things you will ever do is attend university. The adventures you have there are once in a lifetime. Because of this, you should enjoy it and be ready for anything life brings your way.
Some people can help you with your mental health in university. Many people are ready and willing to help you with anything you need. They can be mentors, parents, co-workers, professors, student services, and mental health counselors.
How to Promote Solid Mental Health at University
You can work on your health while in university despite getting help from others. Here are some ways to take care of your mental health:
Managing your time
Managing your time better can help you deal with stress, which can lead to worry. Managing your time is a skill that you need to work on. You can improve how you use your time in several ways. Some of these are making goals you can reach, giving yourself time limits for specific tasks, staying organised, planning, setting time limits, and creating a list of things to do based on their importance. You can review what you did and prepare for the next day’s events at the end of each day.
Planning and organising
Keeping things in order can also help your mental health. Not having things in order may cause stress and sadness. It can be tiring to leave things unfinished or jumbled. If you were better organised, you might feel less stressed, sleep better, be less depressed, and make better decisions.
Assistance network
When it comes to mental health, building a support system can make all the difference. People you work with, friends, neighbours, or even teachers can help you when you feel alone. You’ll have someone by your side to help you through it if you have to make a tough choice or have brutal thoughts.
Volunteering
Helping other people and volunteering can raise your endorphin levels, which make you feel good and lower your stress. Volunteering could be worth your time, even if you already think you have too much to do. There are many ways to help without giving a lot of time to the project. For example, You could provide food to a food drive or earn money for a foundation.
Enough Sleep
Hormones can get out of whack if you don’t get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep helps keep hormones like serotonin and dopamine in check, which is essential for keeping anxiety and sadness at rest. To help you fall asleep or stay asleep, try natural remedies like making a bedtime habit, turning off electronics, making the room very dark, taking a bath, or meditating.
Engage in activities
Anything that gets you moving is better than nothing! Do something you enjoy, like swimming, walking, running, biking, Pilates, or something else. Working out can quickly improve your mood by making your blood flow faster.
Take a break
Taking breaks is essential for everyone, no matter how busy they are or how well they can handle their time. You can study and take breaks in small chunks or wait until you’re done with certain things on your list to take a break.
Do some meditation
Meditation helps you clear your mind and lower the thoughts that go through it. It can help you calm down. Start with just five minutes a day and work your way up. Meditation can make you feel better, both physically and mentally.
Students need to take care of their mental health. In charge of student services at the University of Derby, Sarah Richardson says, “Students who are happy and healthy are successful students.”
Mental health and well-being affect every part of our lives. They change how we think, feel, act, and interact with the world around us.
Students are more likely to have mental health problems because they are often living on their own and experiencing the stresses of adult life for the first time. University students must manage their mental health, but everyone should. While some aspects of mental health may be out of their hands, the techniques above can help you feel better overall!
