It’s no secret that college is one of the most stressful times of anybody’s life, and with midterms upon us, these autumn weeks can feel like a heavy weight on students.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 34 percent of college students have felt depressed in the past three months; that means more than 1,800 Bradley students.
These numbers seem high, but they are also understandable considering how much students must do to balance classes, jobs, organizations and other activities. But Bradley has many resources for students who need help.
Last Thursday, the counseling center invited students to take a mood screening survey in recognition of National Depression Screening Day. The event raised awareness for mental health and encouraged students to utilize Bradley’s counseling services (see “Mood screening imparts mental health awareness” on page A1). More than 300 students filled out screenings at the event, which was an uptick from last year’s 250 students.
This increase in participation is exactly what the counseling center staff – and The Scout – wants to see. And yet, there still seems to be a stigma around counseling, and on a deeper level, asking for help.
Life gets crazy, and school is stressful. There is no problem too big or too small to tackle with the help of professionals. The counseling center currently has five counselors and a psychiatrist to give students any support they need. Also, the counseling center is free (if you pay a health fee with your tuition), and so are all the resources offered there.
We can’t feed this stigma by shaming people who ask for help when they need it. And we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when we need it, either.
Go now while you can, because soon, each one of us will be part of that great, big world where there isn’t free and easily accessible help.
