It’s A Small World, After All
photo by Navya Shukla
It’s A Small World, After All
How can what I feel be so desensitized, yet still so daunting to discuss? According to leading statistics on college campuses, mental health issues are not as uncommon of a phenomena as we may lead ourselves to believe.
by fourth year Kaitlyn Talsky
How can what I feel be so desensitized, yet still so daunting to discuss?
I doubt, or perhaps hope, that I’ve been the only person to ask myself this question. We live every day in our own minds, and for many of us, that seems like a terrifying truth to admit. Maybe instead of admitting that we’re afraid, we’d rather laugh it off, or maybe we’d just rather keep it inside. After all, there’s a lot of negative stigma still surrounding the conversation on mental health—not only by those who surround us, but also from our own mindsets we can’t seem to rid ourselves of.
When asked “Most people would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment,” 41% of participants in the 2023-2024 The Healthy Minds Study—a college-focused mental health study—perceived this statement to be true. However, when asked “I would think less of someone who has received mental health treatment,” only 7% actually agreed with the statement themselves.
It feels impossible to climb this hill sometimes, especially when we feel like we’re climbing it alone.
67% of participants reported that they feel “isolated from others.”
But, as much as we may be convinced, we aren’t as isolated as we think.
38% of participants reported moderate to severe symptoms for depression.
34% of participants reported moderate to severe symptoms for anxiety.
13% of participants reported experiencing suicidal ideation in the past year.
While these statistics are serious, it’s important to remember that they shouldn’t be perceived as scary or taboo. But I’ll admit, even I still tend to bow my head and shrink when asked to list off my various mental health conditions. When I was first diagnosed, it was like my first instinct was to feel shame. I felt small. I was told that only “crazy people” sought mental health treatment, and I felt so weak in the wake of so many that were struggling and not seeking help. Going to therapy, beginning medication. Was I just admitting defeat?
78% of participants agreed with the statement “I currently need help for emotional or mental health problems such as feeling sad, blue, anxious or nervous.”
They say “the first step is admitting you have a problem,” and while that’s not easy, I can’t claim that it’s not true. I believe that there comes a point where your life is worth overcoming your obstacles, your pride, and your fears. And that can be as easy as just talking to one single person.
12% of participants received mental and emotional support from their roommate.
31% of participants received mental and emotional support from their significant other.
39% of participants received mental and emotional support from their friends.
39% of participants received mental and emotional support from their family.
Part of the mental health crisis on college campuses today is a result of mental health resources being too busy or financially difficult to access. This is especially true for students of color or students of a low income status. But even a simpler kind of support can make a world of difference.
The American Psychological Association found that “A review of 38 studies found that adult friendships, especially high-quality ones that provide social support and companionship, significantly predict well-being and can protect against mental health issues such as depression and anxiety—and those benefits persist across the life span.” But beyond this, they also found that “interactions with acquaintances—and even strangers—can also give our mental health a boost.”
The conclusion is two-fold: you shouldn’t be alone, and neither should anyone else. After time spent in the isolations of our own homes, we need to (now, more than ever) reach out for our sakes as well as our peers’.
photo by Navya Shukla
We should ask others how they’re doing really. We should show others that we’re people they can confide in if or when they need us. We should do our best to make our campus, and this world, a smaller, safer place for everyone around us. Even though that may seem taxing or scary to many of us, it’s as simple as giving somebody a smile or paying them a compliment. We often never realize that our smallest actions have the greatest impact on others. We don’t need to be perfect, but we can certainly try to be present, try to show others that they’re not alone. And when we make others feel less alone, we ourselves feel less alone too. Really, the world is much less lonely than we give it credit for.