� Starting college lavatory be both exciting and stressful. You're juggling classes, living on your own for the first time and reckoning out what you need out of life. It's no surprise that many freshmen finger overwhelmed. In fact, American College Testing (ACT) estimates that 1 in 4 college students drop out before complementary their sophomore year.
One way to fight strain and feel at home in your new environment is to connect to other students and the larger campus community. To help the incoming Class of 2012, Mental Health America has redact together a fact-sheet outlining the benefits of acquiring active-and staying active in your college communities. Here are some suggestions for incoming students:
- Connect to your roomy, dorm mates and Resident Advisor. Make an campaign to get to cognize the person you're living with. Go to meals, get a cup of coffee or explore campus together. Also, take fourth dimension to get to know the multitude living on your floor. Say 'hi' when you pass each other in the hall or stop by their rooms. Resident Advisors are trained to know what's happening on campus. They also contrive dorm flooring events and outings.
- Stay connected to family and friends at home. Leaving your friends and crime syndicate is a big alteration. Staying in touch can help you feel close and supported. Instant Messaging, texting, electronic mail and social networking sites are large ways to stay connected-but be careful what you post online!
- Connect to the larger campus community. You crataegus laevigata want to think about participating in sorority or fraternity recruitment. If that isn't your thing, at that place are early student clubs on campus that focus on everything from social justice issues to rock climbing. Don't see a nine you like? Start 1.
- Connect to your professors and pedantic advisors. Your professors and academic advisors are thither to assist you have through tough classes, tough decisions and tough times. They lavatory help you figure out what you want out of your academic experience. If you feel like you power have a rough fourth dimension in class, make an appointment with your prof during role hours.
- Connect to help. Your health and upbeat can regard your freshman year live - how much you enjoy existence there, how well you do in class and how you feel about yourself. Make your health and wellbeing a antecedency from the start.
Sometimes stress is unavoidable. Mental Health America urges students to have time out of their busy new lifestyles and consider these symptoms:
- Feeling angry, irritable or easily frustrated
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Change in eating habits
- Problems concentrating
- Feeling nervous or anxious
- Trouble sleeping
- Problems with memory
- Feeling burned out from work
- Feeling that you can't sweep over difficulties in your life
- Having trouble functioning in classes or job.
If these symptoms persist, they can't go unchecked. Extended feelings of hopelessness and an unfitness to cope could show a more than serious condition like depressive disorder or anxiety.
In summation to these tips, Mental Health America offers resources on Sexual and Gender Identity issues, Eating Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Substance Abuse, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and other mental health conditions. For more information, gossip our internet site at hypertext transfer protocol://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/.
Mental Health America is the country's leading nonprofit dedicated to portion all multitude live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing trend of Americans who promote mental health for the health and well-being of the nation - unremarkable and in times of crisis.
For more information on local services, call Mental Health America's online Frequently Asked Questions section at hypertext transfer protocol://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/faqs, contact a Mental Health America affiliate, or contact Mental Health America.
Mental Health America strongly encourages people in crisis to seek help immediately. A 24-hour crisis middle can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 911 should be called for immediate assistance.
Mental Health America
More info
