Recent studies from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, putting suicide rates at an all time high. One million people attempt suicide annually and every 14.2 minutes, someone in the United States dies by suicide.
In Mississippi, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 24. The vast majority of people who take their own lives have a diagnosable and treatable mental illness. With the rate of suicide among college students rising each year, studies are now showing an increase in the numbers of diagnosed mental illnesses among young people in college.
According to the American Psychological Association, more young people are arriving on campuses with pre-existing conditions than they were 10 years ago, and 1-in-4 college students is on psychiatric medication.
According to Camilla Williams, staff psychologist at Mississippi State University’s Student Counseling Services, college is an especially vulnerable time for a young person’s mental health.
“Students are facing everything from problems they’ve never faced before, and they’re on their own for the first time. People underestimate the pressure on college students,” Williams said. “Any time you have change, you’re more susceptible to mental illness.”
Rob’Dreka Shaw, president of Active Minds, a campus group that seeks to promote mental well-being, said the pressure of college can be tough for any student.
“College is a critical period in everyone’s lives. Many of us are worried about our grades and our future and tend to become overwhelmed from time to time,” Shaw said.
According to Williams, developmentally, college age is also the most likely time for pre-existing mental conditions to manifest themselves. With stress from school weighing on them as well as brain chemistry working against them, students are at a very high risk for mental distress.
For their own well-being, students must stay aware of their own behavior as well as the behavior of their friends. Among college students, the most common mental health issues are depression and anxiety. Although everyone experiences sadness and stress, these emotions become a mental health issue when they hinder a person’s ability to function.
According to Williams, the biggest warning sign to look for in a person who might be suffering from a mental disorder is a drastic change in the person’s sleep cycles or diet.
“Sleep and food are the basic fuels needed to function and they’re the first to go when things start to get screwed up,” Williams said.
If a student is worried he or she might be suffering from a mental disorder, the first step is communication. A student should make sure to check in with friends and express his or her feelings out loud to someone he or she trusts. Students are also urged to make an appointment with Student Counseling Services.
Often, Americans place a stigma on those with mental disorders and also on those who seek treatment for such a disorder. Many associate therapy with being crazy or dysfunctional. Shaw said this attitude can become dangerous.
“There is a lot of stigma attached to mental health issues. People tend to think that if someone suffers from a mental disorder they are ‘crazy.’ With this stigma being around, people do not want to seek the help they need for the fear of being labeled,” Shaw said.
Williams urged students to look past this stigma, which might be the result of a national attitude.
“There’s this idea of the American spirit, and we are all just supposed to be able to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. We are supposed to be independent. But we all need help sometimes, and asking for any help is scary,” she said.
Although students should take advantage of counseling services on campus, there are other ways to maintain a healthy mentality. Regular physical and social activities, particularly outdoor activities, can help ward off depression and other mental issues.
Student Counseling Services offers free and confidential counseling. The center also offers a variety of classes and workshops centered on mental well-being, covering topics from anxiety to anger management. The counseling center, located in Hathorn Hall, always retains a counselor on duty for emergency appointments. After hours, a counselor can always be reached on call either through the MSU police dispatcher 325-2121 or the counseling contact line 325-3333.
Students should take advantage of the opportunity for therapy on campus. Robbie Henry, a senior history major, said all students should take care of their mental health.
“Even if it seems like therapy is for people who just can’t handle things by themselves, it is not. It is for anyone who is going through something difficult, which is everyone,” Henry said.
College students’ brains are extremely active and still developing. Students must put time and energy into taking care of their minds. Although asking for help can be daunting, the risks outweigh that fear. Shaw said the counseling center has been helpful for her and others.
“I and many of the students I have encountered here at State  have actually experienced the counseling center firsthand, and they all say it has been helpful,” Shaw said.
Williams stressed the importance of mental health, especially at a time when suicide can often be romanticized through movies and music. Although thinking about death is a natural human feeling, when the thoughts become recurring or overwhelming, students should seek help immediately.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one out of every five people will experience a mental disorder severe enough to interfere with their daily life.
There is no shame or weakness involved in seeking help for a mental disorder, especially for young people with whom the risks are higher.
                  “There is no magic fix for a mental illness, but if you seek help, you can and will get better,” Williams said. “Mental illness is one of the hardest things a human can experience, but asking for help is an extremely brave thing to do.”