Help available for UHCL students coping with stress of the season
December 15, 2017 | UHCL Staff
It’s supposed to be the happiest season of all: decorating for the holidays, gift
shopping and vacation time with family. The holiday season is upon us, but for an
increasing number of people, this time of year is not particularly merry.
In 2016, the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State University published
a survey reporting that anxiety and depression are on the rise among college students.
If you’re a college student who’s already feeling emotionally distressed, the stress
of the end of the year combined with the holidays can make it all feel worse.
Carolina Jimenez, a psychologist and outreach coordinator in University of Houston-Clear
Lake’s Counseling Services, said that nationwide, suicide is the second leading cause
of death among students between ages 25-34. “What makes this problem even sadder is
that it’s so preventable,” she said.
Jimenez discussed several questions surrounding the causes of anxiety and depression
in college students, how suicidal tendencies originate and the services that UH-Clear
Lake offers to address these problems.
Q. What are the underlying factors in a suicidal death of a college student?
“It’s usually a combination of life stresses. Financial, work, academic, family/relationship
and social stressors can combine to create a sense of hopelessness and discouragement.
It can also include significant life changes, lack of social support, fear of disappointing
others, and being diagnosed with a terminal illness.”
Often, she explained, a student might ‘catastrophize’ a single event. “The thinking
pattern can be ‘I’m going to fail this test, I going to fail the class, I’m going
to fail this semester, I’m going to drop out, and my life is over, I should kill myself.’
It can be followed by negative self-talk, like, ‘You’re stupid, you’re worthless,
you can’t do anything right.’ There is a sense that one negative event will impact
your entire life and can often lead to depressive thoughts.
“Research has also shown that experiencing a significant loss, including the end of
a romantic relationship or the death of a loved one can trigger suicidal thoughts.”
Q. What is the difference between going through a difficult phase and a real mental
illness?
“The word ‘depression’ is often overused. The main difference is the length of time
and intensity of the symptoms. Everyone has ups and downs, but if the downs are persistent,
then it can be a cause for concern. A good rule of thumb is that if the problems
persist more than two weeks, then it may be beneficial to consult a professional.”
If the “downs” are so intense that they negatively impact your work performance, your
ability to study, and your relationships, then seeking support from a therapist may
be helpful.
There are significant differences between feeling down, and experiencing depression
or another mental illness, Jimenez said. Often, when people seem very happy and energetic
one minute, and upset and depressed the next, they’re offhandedly called “bipolar.”
Bipolar disorder is not about being moody, she explained.
“People often say that someone is bipolar when they are referring to someone who is
experiencing a change in mood. People with bipolar disorder show clearly defined
episodes of extreme happiness, high energy, and often times impulsivity including
engaging in risky behavior and over spending. These episodes can be followed by depressive
symptoms including sadness, changes in appetite and sleeping patterns, decreased interest
in activities people used to enjoy, and lack of energy and/or concentration.”
Q. Some people are depressed when they “seem” happy to everyone. What are some of
the less obvious symptoms?
“Anything that is a drastic change in someone’s usual behavior can be an indication
that something may be wrong. For example, if someone usually attends weekly meetings
to hobbies, clubs, extracurricular activities, etc. and they suddenly don’t seem to
care about those activities anymore. Other less obvious signs include irritability
and difficulty making decisions.”
She added that abusing substances like alcohol or drugs can be used to numb feelings
of despair or sadness, but that ultimately, they only intensified the problems. “Alcohol
overuse can be a real risk factor, and it plays into impulse control—once you start,
you might not be able to stop.”
Q. What are some specific risk factors for suicide among millennials?
Jimenez said that social media has played a significant role in keeping people from
forming the lasting, deep relationships that they need to sustain them through difficult
times. “Social media and increased screen time often lead to social isolation,” Jimenez
said.
“People post what seems to be their happiest moments on social media, so this creates
negative comparisons added to a sense of isolation.”
Social comparisons can intensify depressive feelings, she said. “It may look like
everyone’s life is amazing except mine. Everyone is succeeding, getting married, their
lives seem perfect. But it’s easy to hide behind a screen. You don’t see the reality,
you often only see the happy moments.”
Technology has released many people from having to be in a certain location for their
jobs. Many people can work from home, which has its benefits but also can deprive
people from developing personal relationships with coworkers that can be an important
source of support,” Jimenez said.
Q. To what degree does race, gender or religion play into a student’s decision to
commit suicide?
“White men have the highest risk for suicide. Men become more emotionally distressed
after a loss and can try more lethal ways to kill themselves. A woman might attempt
to overdose on pills, but a man is more likely to use a gun.”
She added that foreign students who are experiencing anxiety or depression are much
harder to bring to counseling. “There is still stigma attached to seeking mental help.
People from other cultures are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the concept of coming
and telling a ‘stranger’ their problems. We are working diligently to gain the trust
of our international students.”
Foreign students are worried they’ll disappoint their families and that if they do
not succeed here, they’ll lose their financial investment in their education. “The
stigma is strong, and we are working to improve our outreach to these students,” she
said.
Q. What services does UHCL offer students who require mental health support?
Counseling Services, located in the Student Services and Classroom Building, offers
free individual, group and couples therapy in both English and Spanish. All students
who are enrolled at UHCL qualify for these services. A psychiatrist is available for
coordinated care, and payments are significantly cheaper through the university than
off-campus. Crisis consultation services are available. All services are completely
confidential and kept separate from academic and health records. They also provide
a biofeedback/relaxation room, workshops, animal assisted therapy, social media articles,
a self-help library, and educational displays. Faculty and staff are eligible to
receive two free consultations, then a referral if needed.
“We like to focus on prevention. We encourage people to come when they are stressed
out to prevent them from having panic attacks. The investment of time is worth the
benefits in people’s overall well-being.”
For more information about UHCL Counseling Services, visit www.uhcl.edu/counseling-services.
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