The Office of Wellness Promotion and Counseling Center recently had their “Check Up from the Neck Up” event at Sykes. Students were free to come take a questionnaire and have a screening done by a counselor. T-shirts and little foam giraffes were given out as well.
Kaitlyn Juhasz, a sophomore who works at Office of Promotion and Wellness, said that she decided to apply to the program because she likes to leave a mark on people wherever she goes. She and nine other students work six to 10 hours per week to plan for events such as Condom Bingo and #Let’s Walk 5K for Student-Athlete Mental Health. According to the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2013, “Anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6%), followed by depression (36.4%) and relationship problems (35.8%).”
Fifteen WCU students took a survey on having anxiety. When asked how often their anxiety prevents them from coming to class, 12 out of the 15 said occasionally. One student said more than once a week. Five said they were diagnosed, but symptoms increased after they began taking classes. Four said they were diagnosed after coming to college. Six said they were not diagnosed, but do experience symptoms like nervousness and/or feeling faint.
A WCU student who wishes to stay anonymous, said that before her sophomore year her anxiety started to increase and became a problem when she started working. She said she “is more introverted socially, and often doesn’t participate in class discussions due to [her] anxiety.” When asked for any helpful tips, she said, “Therapy and breathing helps with the physical discomfort.”
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. “One in five college students become so stressed they consider suicide,” CBS found. Most college students often take a five class workload, and may work a job along with that, on top of whatever may be going on in their personal lives. We forget that stressful events happen as well, and can trigger those not only with mental illness but also those without.
There are many resources on campus for those who feel more stressed than usual, or even when they just need someone to talk to. The Counseling and Psychological Services have walk-in hours Monday through Friday free in Lawrence Center, Suite 252 at no charge. You can report to the Campus Assessment, Response and Education team (CARE) if you or anyone you know has had any concerning behaviors. You can also reach Public Safety at (610) 436-3311. If you would like to hear about more events from the Office of Wellness Promotion or other information, go to www.wcupa.edu and click on ‘Student Life’ – you’ll find all that West Chester has to offer for students from all sexual orientations, ethnicities, gender, and other backgrounds.
Even if you’ve never been diagnosed, utilize these resources—they are there for a reason. Write your feelings down. Take a walk around campus. Talk to friends when you feel any less than yourself. There is something or someone out there to help you in crisis. Remember, we are all in this together.
Brianna Brito is a third-year student majoring in media and culture. BB895070@wcupa.edu