Christie Campus Health’s Post

In the life of a student's education, the burden of financial stress can weigh heavily on students taking a toll on their mental well-being from tuition fees and to living expenses. The financial demands of Academia can create a constant source of anxiety and pressure. For many students, the struggle to make ends meet while doing coursework and having part-time jobs can lead to feelings of overwhelm, hopelessness and stress. The fear of debt and the uncertainty of future financial stability can cast a shadow over the academic lives, affecting the ability to concentrate, engage and succeed. Moreover, the surrounding financial struggles can further affect the mental health challenges faced by students, leaving them to suffer in silence rather than seeking the support they desperately need. It's crucial to recognize the impact that financial stress can have on a student's mental health and take proactive steps to address it. This includes providing accessible resources for financial assistance and offering mental health support services to financially distressed students. Fostering a culture of openness and understanding where students feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgment. By addressing the topic of money and mental health in the academic setting, we can create a more supportive environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally regardless of their financial circumstances. Together, let's overcome the burden of financial stress and prioritize the mental well-being of all students and their educational journey.

Addressing Student Suicides: A Call to Action The alarming rate of student suicides highlights the urgent need to address various underlying issues. Key contributing factors include: Academic Pressure: Intense competition and expectations from parents and society. Mental Health Issues: Depression, anxiety, and other disorders often remain unaddressed. Bullying and Harassment: Both in-person and cyberbullying significantly impact students' well-being. Lack of Support Systems: Insufficient counseling services and emotional support. Financial Stress: Concerns over tuition fees and living expenses. Solutions:- Academic Pressure: 1) Promote a balanced approach to education with emphasis on mental well-being. 2) Encourage realistic goal setting and reduce unhealthy competition. Mental Health Issues: 1)Implement regular mental health screenings and provide accessible counseling services. 2)Normalize conversations around mental health to reduce stigma. Bullying and Harassment: 1)Establish strict anti-bullying policies and provide safe reporting channels. 2) Educate students on the impact of bullying and promote a culture of respect. Lack of Support Systems: 1) Increase funding for mental health resources in schools. 2) Train teachers and staff to identify and support at-risk students. Financial Stress: 1)Offer scholarships, grants, and financial planning resources. 2)Provide part-time work opportunities and financial counseling services. By addressing these factors comprehensively, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for students. NYERA EDUCATIONAL TRUST(R) in association with NYERAS INSTITUITIONS is available to Counsel Students for Free on this Aspect. Any Suicidal thoughts Do Immediately call to 7013586357. #Nyerascares

College transfers are on the rise, prompted by various factors. According to research, the top motivators are cost, location, academic programs, college fit, and mental health. While transferring can be beneficial, it also comes with trade-offs to weigh. For parents seeking to advise student children, understanding the main drivers behind transferring equips you to have meaningful discussions about whether changing colleges makes sense. https://lnkd.in/gxaB4W_b

College transfers are on the rise, prompted by various factors. According to research, the top motivators are cost, location, academic programs, college fit, and mental health. While transferring can be beneficial, it also comes with trade-offs to weigh. For parents seeking to advise student children, understanding the main drivers behind transferring equips you to have meaningful discussions about whether changing colleges makes sense. https://lnkd.in/gk7UqgqT

Despite the competitive nature of higher education, students are facing unseen challenges that impact their mental health and holistic growth. The increasing number of student suicides is a stark reminder of the toll this environment can take. Read this insightful article by our alumni Neeraj Madke, shedding light on the hidden struggles within the educational system. https://lnkd.in/gCGsEEU7

“Younger generations have completely different concerns than we do. Do they have a chance to contribute to society? Will there even be a society for them to contribute to?” College isn't for everyone. But for the last generation it has become more of a norm and an expectation rather than what it truly is-one path towards a particular type of professional future. Trade schools and apprenticeships are taking off again, and we're finding new ways to make a living away from the standard 9-5, including more freelancing and contracting, and even starting our own businesses and offering services in new and different ways. More than ever, people are valueing their time and independence and trying to find a way to spend and work less, to spend more time with their loved ones or on passions, hobbies, and experiences. College has only more recently been viewed as almost a staple of moving from adolescence to adulthood for many people. It provides opportunities for social skill development, networking, and a scaffolded entry to indepedence. But the costs (financial and otherwise) can feel like too much-particularly in the current economic and social climate where the type of job a college graduate is able to access isn't guarenteed to be worth the investment. Not to mention, young people are more anxious than ever about the future (understandably) given the pandemic as well as environmental and political concerns. Will there even be a work force for them to join, and will it even look anything like the way they've been taught? With all of this considered, it's not suprising that we're seeing an uptick in mental health symptoms in students (and in higher education faculty!) College and higher education is no longer the safety bubble that it used to be when real world anxieties are constantly filtering in. The way that we think of higher education, making a living, contributing to society and creating a life that feels worthwhile are going to have to change along with the world around us, and while change is not a bad thing, it can create a lot of uncertainty and instability in the mean time. #highereducation #collegelife #collegestudents #burnoutprevention #burnoutrecovery #educationinnovation #academia #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth

Who is responsible for making our universities suicide safe? Dr Cassie Hazell at the University of Surrey has been awarded ESRC: Economic and Social Research Council #impact funding to try and find the answer... Over the last decade, 1,330 higher education students have taken their own lives. In the three years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, 319 students died by suicide – this is equivalent to one student dying every 4 days. Creating a suicide-safe learning environment requires an approach that addresses both individual and systemic factors contributing to mental health challenges among students. By working together, staff, students, parents and support organisations can help ensure universities are supportive and conducive to the wellbeing of all students. Dr Hazell is working with researchers from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Westminster, University of Sussex and Canterbury Christ Church University. The team will build on existing research into student mental health, funded by the Office for Students, and carry out focused stakeholder activities with staff, students and parents - exploring the issues from a lived experience. They will produce a consensus statement to complement the 'Suicide Safer' guidelines, with specific instruction on the roles and responsibilities of those supporting students in universities. Graphic recordings and animations will also be produced to document their findings, which will be shared far and wide across the sector. This #impact #exploration project will also inform and support a wider funding application, to continue the research further. Find out more here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/etCh-UYb #students #wellbeing #mentalhealth #supportingstaff #supportingstudents #universitylife #suicideprevention #universities #impactatsurrey #psychology

The data shows that there is a notable gender difference in the prevalence of depression among students. Students who identify as female are more susceptible to depression; 38% of them experience it compared to 21% of male students. Comprehending these distinctions is essential to customizing mental health assistance initiatives on university campuses. Suggestions: Launch focused mental health initiatives that cater to the unique needs of female students. Investigate the fundamental causes of gender-based disparities in depression rates by doing further study.

Today's students have had it tough. They're impacted by so many challenges across our wider society. And although we know universities have been developing some excellent practice through the University Mental Health Charter programme to support them better, our wider government has failed to do enough to tackle the mounting rates of mental illness in our university communities. Up to 40% of students now meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition 😨 That's why Student Minds have laid out our vision for the next government to improve student mental health through immediate and long-term policy reform. I know the team have worked long and hard with students, clinicians and HE staff (read more about their methodology on p39 of the manifesto, link below) to form a set of ambitious and holistic recommendations for how the government can improve mental health in our universities in the years ahead. Well done team for getting it out there - Dom Smithies Yeme Onoabhagbe and our entire student Steering Group! Read the manifesto here > https://lnkd.in/ej_cpYrB And if your organisation shares our vision for the next government, please add your endorsement here > https://lnkd.in/eHQW_c_J

From the article: "More than half of American college students now report depression, anxiety or seriously considering suicide. This is a problem that reaches across geography, race, class, identity, institutional resources or prestige and academic ability. Almost one in four Americans in college considered dropping out in the last year because of their mental health." My only caveat to the article is this: the article implies that caring for the whole student is some new trend in higher education. It is not. Student Affairs educators have been working to care for the whole student for over 100 years now. We continue to advocate for holistic student development and care and love. Our campuses need to be caring places. Everyone needs to be on board. There are also huge structural issues to making this a reality, however. Many of those are rooted in our society, which continues to devalue higher education, faculty, and students, and generally is unserious about solving any major deeply rooted cultural norms that value community and education.