Cait Mokros

College has many unique stressors that make everyday life challenging. With challenges such as exams, homework, work, and a social life to maintain it can feel impossible to motivate yourself enough to lead a happy and productive life.

Resources like therapy are beneficial to college students, even those without mental health issues. Therapy can help college students with a wide variety of issues like stress, anxiety, relationships, mood, productivity, and much more!

Statistics

Taking a look at the statistics of college students and mental health issues it becomes clear why there is such a need for mental health support and therapy in college. If you are experiencing mental health struggles in college, you are not alone. 

According to an article published by  Inside Higher Ed, a survey was conducted on 3,000 two and four year college respondents at 158 institutions on their experiences with stress, mental health, physical wellness etc. From this study it was found that 56% of students have experienced chronic stress in college. Chronic stress is defined as “a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.” 

A study conducted by the American College Health Association (ACHA), found that nearly 77% of college students experienced moderate to severe psychological distress. This survey also found that nearly 35% of students experienced anxiety, nearly 27% experienced depression, and nearly 47% reported that they have experienced challenges with finances in the past 12 months. 

The ACHA also found that 54% of students experienced loneliness. 

Benefits of Therapy 

1. Coping with stress and learning stress management
2. Learning healthy coping mechanisms 
3. Improving self esteem and confidence
4. Navigate relationships with family, friends, coworkers, etc.
5. Improve and cope with mental health issues 
6. Understanding past trauma 

How to get help

Talking to a professional and getting diagnosed is a privilege that not everyone has but there are resources out there that are less costly or free. Through your insurance company, you can find a therapist with the help of your primary care doctor, calling your insurance company, or checking their website. It is also important to find a therapist that you trust and that you feel comfortable talking to. 

1. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) : Penn State Abington offers its own free and confidential counseling services for all students. CAPS offers 8 sessions of individual therapy per academic year to gain a deeper understanding of self, relationships, and life circumstances. CAPS also offers group counseling for students to meet and discuss common concerns, personal issues, and learn new skills. There is also information on the website about the peer counseling program, wellness resources, mental health emergencies and crises, and the collegiate recovery program. Check out their website for more information!
2. Psychologytoday.com: Through online resources, it’s possible to find therapists close to you. Just type in your city, zip code, or the therapist’s name and you can see what is available near you. The search will bring up mental health professionals and will give you options to get in contact with them. It will give you information such as cost, insurance information, and what the therapist specializes in. The website also provides information on the types of therapy each therapist offers and their qualifications. 
3. 7cups.com: This website offers free resources to chat with volunteer listeners. The volunteer listeners are not professionals but they are trained through the online program and there to listen. The chat with a volunteer option is perfect for those who are having a stressful day and need someone to talk to but it is not for people who need a professional diagnosis. The website does offer online therapy with a licensed therapist for a low monthly fee. The website is completely confidential and has chat rooms and forums for people with similar issues like depression, anxiety, relationships, LGBTQ+ , and more!