Coping with college
Shauna McCrudden speaks to counselling psychologist, Treasa Fox, about the mental health difficulties college students’ experience and what a student can do to get through a stressful time in their lives
Counselling psychologist, Treasa Fox, tells us about the mental health difficulties college students’ experience and what a student can do to get through this stressful time in their lives
Iwent to college in UCD, the largest college in Ireland. Going to college was one of the biggest transitions in my life. From moving house, to financial pressures, to the stress of taking care of myself for the first time. Instead of the comfort of home and secondary school, university life is flexible and sometimes scary. After the fear of the first few weeks, I learned to enjoy my time in college – I made friends, got into the swing of assignments and exams and even got a kiss or two! Most people find college to be a highlight of their education, but there are those who find college life to be a strain on their mental health.
The Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education (PCHEI) report a 40pc increase in demand for counselling on campuses over the last decade.
Treasa Fox, Psychologist, Head of Student Counselling Services at AIT and spokesperson for PCHEI, says, “We have seen a significant increase in numbers coming to counselling in the last few years. In the academic year 2016/17, over 14,000 students attended student counselling services, which is about 7pc of the student population.”
According to the USI Student Dropout Survey from 2016, 61.6pc of students experience burnout while attending third level, while 27.6pc have dropped out due to stress and anxiety.
“In the 2016/2017 college year, 40 pc of the 14,000 that came to counselling services, came for reasons relating to anxiety,” says Treasa.
“College transition is always difficult in so many different ways. Moving to a new city to attend college is a huge upheaval in someone’s life. There is usually a change in friendships the student had throughout school, so it can be a very lonely time too. Social media, while useful for keeping connected to people, can also create substantial stress by always having to be ‘on’, interacting, and also can feed negative comparisons. The college workload can be stressful and there can be financial pressures which force students to have to work part-time. Trying to juggle that, along with other college demands, can be very difficult for students.”
Overcoming issues
A report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2011 titled, ‘The Mental Health of Students in Higher Education’, found that college students tend to report more mental health problems than other demographics. But, how can students overcome these issues?
“College can be a fresh start in so many ways – you’re usually in a new town and a new world of opportunities is opening up. Instead of focusing on the negative, embrace the positive where you can. It can be a fantastic opportunity for personal and professional development. As a result of your choice of course, you now have the opportunity of meeting with people who share the same interests and ideas. This provides opportunities to make new friends. Realise that you are not alone in how you feel. There are lots of other people in the same situation and they can feel just as anxious and worried.
“I think making connections with other people early on is a key factor in taking care of your mental health. This is especially true when living alone for the first time. Relationships with other people can help with many problems, such as loneliness. Take care of yourself and try to have an awareness of what alcohol can do too, as drinking can contribute to mental health issues.”
Treasa says that if you are finding it difficult to make connections, or to handle problems and traumas in your life, don’t ever be afraid of seeking help.
“There are some students who don’t think their issues and problems are significant enough to seek help. They think other people have it worse than them and don’t want to waste a counsellor’s time. We are really trying to reach those students.
“It’s never too early to talk to someone. There are a lot of support options in colleges and the academic staff in universities are always supportive and good at assessing when a student might need more specialised help.”
Seeking help
According to the Reaching Out in College Report by Reachout Ireland, 63pc of students indicated that they would be likely to avail of one-to-one counselling on-campus. But, while students are seeking help and it is available for any student who needs it, Treasa mentions that the funding for third-level counselling is simply not enough and the waiting lists could put students off.
“Many students have two 12 or 13-week semesters, so if someone seeks counselling in week seven, the long waiting list could make them give up and their academic performance and progress can be negatively impacted. As an association, we are campaigning for early intervention as this is very helpful to the student.
“If we see a student early on for an average of four sessions, in many cases, that student will be able to continue in their education in an improved state of mind. This is also better for the government too as they have an investment in these students for the future. Student retention is a positive for all, so we will continue to call for resourcing that allows counselling services to meet young people at the time they seek help.”
But, while funding is low and waiting lists are high, students should never be afraid to reach out if they need some help.
“Higher Education Counselling services provide a critical mental health service. When a student hits a difficult patch, we hope they know they can come to us and we will be able to talk through things with them confidentially. They can then progress to recovery and re-engage with their college life.”
Treasa adds: “Students are such an amazing group to work with as they are so receptive. The right services delivered at the right time can make a world of difference.”
If you are affected by any mental health issues, most third-level institutes have a qualified counsellor. To find the support services available on each campus in Ireland, visit www.pleasetalk.org and for more information and advice, visit www.reachout.com