MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND THEIR PREVALENCE IN STUDENTS TODAY

One in five students has a diagnosable mental illness. Only about 40% of students will seek help for these issues.1

Depression and anxiety have been around since 5th Century B.C.2

Depression and anxiety are diseases with a biological basis along with psychological and social implications.3

Mental illnesses can also be passed down by our parents. The genes we inherit from them determine our gender, hair color, eye color, height and even diseases that we are more prone to. 4

Whether physical, sexual or emotional, abuse can be a large factor in the source of depression or anxiety. The most common causes are abuse, conflict, medication, death or loss, major events, person problems and other illnesses.5

Feelings of sadness, feeling anxious and lack of motivation are very common for everyone from time to time. It becomes an issue when these feelings are prolonged and have caused a change in your life. 6

Common symptoms of depression and anxiety are lack of energy, specifically in the morning, significant weight loss or weight gain, insomnia, lack of interest, constant feelings of worthlessness and guilt, anxious feelings, sweaty hands, heart palpitations, nausea and muscle tension.6

Approximately 5.5% of students with a mental illness have practiced self-harm.7

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among students.8

Diet and exercise can easily be utilized to increase your mental state.

Being in nature can also decrease stress and positively impact your mood.

Simply doing more of the things you love can really decrease your chance for illness. Listening to your favorite song while feeling sad or anxious can immediately release all of the negative feelings you have been building up.

We need to start working together to stop the demise of the mental health of students. The youth of today are the future and must be taught that they can do hard things and are capable of being strong, independent and worthwhile people.

WORKS CITED 1"TOP 5 MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING COLLEGE STUDENTS." BEST COLLEGES . N.P., N.D. WEB. 18 MAY 2016. <HTTP://WWW.BESTCOLLEGES.COM/RESOURCES/TOP-5-MENTAL-HEALTH-PROBLEMS-FACING-COLLEGE-STUDENTS/>. 2"HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF DEPRESSION." MENTAL HELP HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDINGS OF

DEPRESSION COMMENTS . N.P., N.D. WEB. 18 MAY 2016. <HTTPS://WWW.MENTALHELP.NET/ARTICLES/HISTORICAL-UNDERSTANDINGS-OF-DEPRESSION/>. 3"ANXIETY AND THE BRAIN: AN INTRODUCTION." ANXIETY AND THE BRAIN: AN INTRODUCTION . N.P., N.D. WEB. 18 MAY 2016. <HTTP://WWW.CALMCLINIC.COM/ANXIETY/ANXIETY-BRAIN>. 4"MAJOR DEPRESSION AND GENETICS." GENRED . N.P., N.D. WEB. 19 MAY 2016. 5"CAUSES OF DEPRESSION: GENETICS, ILLNESS, ABUSE, AND MORE." WEBMD . WEBMD, N.D. WEB. 19 MAY 2016. 6"DEPRESSION (MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER)." DEPRESSION (MAJOR DEPRESSION) SYMPTOMS . N.P., N.D. WEB. 19 MAY 2016. 7"TEENS AND SUICIDE." PSYCHOLOGY TODAY . N.P., N.D. WEB. 19 MAY 2016.8"TEEN SUICIDES STATISTICS - YELLO DYNO." TEEN SUICIDES STATISTICS - YELLO DYNO . N.P., N.D. WEB. 19 MAY 2016.