BY AGENCY REPORTER
Research has shown that college students are in a high-risk group for depression, therefore students are advised to ensure they keep themselves happy and healthy.
Below are the simple tips to keep your mental health.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many people feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help with their depression but this is unnecessary as it’s a common and treatable problem that you don’t have to deal with alone. Tap into campus resources to find help or tell a friend how you’re feeling.
- Keep in touch with family and friends. You can help beat homesickness and loneliness by keeping in touch with friends and family members.
- Build new friendships. A big part of the college experience is meeting new people and forming new friendships so get out there and meet new people whenever possible.
- Expect things to change. Things will change both at home and in your school life, so expect things to change over time. You will grow and so will the people around you.
- Understand that it may take time to fit in. Most people don’t make best friends on the first day of college. It takes time to build friendships, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t fit in right away.
- Don’t let stress get the best of you. Stress can be a major factor in many students’ depression. If you’re feeling stressed out make sure to take a break and set aside time to relax.
- Realize you don’t have to please everyone. There is no way that you can make everyone happy all the time. Concentrate on making yourself happy first and you’ll cut out lots of stress and hassle from your life. READ ALSO: GE Healthcare partner with DRC Ministry of Health on mobile X-ray units and ECG machines delivery
- Know the signs of depression. It can be hard to differentiate a simple slump from serious depression so learn the signs of depression not only for your own benefit but for the benefit of your friends as well.
- Build on your confidence. If you know you’re good at certain things build on the confidence you take from these activities rather than concentrating on your faults.
- Find strength in numbers. You may have an easier time feeling good and fitting in if you find a group of students who share similar interests and values as you.
- Volunteer. Sometimes volunteering can give you a sense of satisfaction you can’t get from work or classwork, so get out there and help others in your community.
- Get involved on campus. Joining clubs and social groups on campus can help you to meet new friends and keep you from feeling lonely or isolated.
- Set goals. You’ll be more motivated and positive if you give yourself goals to work towards throughout the school year. Source: Rutgers University
