Article by: Drayten Nobles, Contributing Writer

With the stress of daily life, school, and possibly work, college can be very hard on students’ mental health. While it may not always be apparent, it has become a threat to modern society. The rapid rise of mental health issues has become one of the biggest epidemics among the youth. From anxiety and depression to other mental health disorders, it can be challenging to focus and succeed, especially academically. 

According to the article “College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations,” from the National Library of Medicine, almost 12% of college students suffer from anxiety alone, and  around 7-9% suffer from depression. While these two issues are the biggest, countless other issues, such as suicide and eating disorders, are high among college students. These issues could be fatal and could ruin students’ lives if not treated. This raises the question: what can be done? What resources are available for college students?

For South Alabama, student mental health and well-being are a priority. The University of Counseling and Wellness Center (UCWC) provides countless resources to students across campus, including the Jags for Jed project. The Jags have partnered with the Jed Foundation to help create a campus environment that prioritizes mental health, emotional well-being, and suicide prevention. The Jags for Jed website offers tons of remedies that can help you or your loved ones. Whether it’s counseling, emergency hotlines, assessments to test students’ wellness, and more. To find out more information about the Jags for JED project, visit Jags for Jed | University of South Alabama.

South provides areas on campus for students to relax and enhance their overall well-being. Located in the University Counseling and Wellness Center is the Relaxation Room, where students can rest and relax in a quiet space that includes a massage chair, leather recliners, yoga mats, and more. The room also recently added a new VR headset to help provide a peaceful escape and help students recharge. The room is open from 1 pm to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The room is available to all USA students. For more information on policies and how to schedule an appointment, go to Relaxation Room | University Counseling & Testing Center. 
 The Counseling and Wellness Center website provides guides and practices that are scientifically-based to help support mental health and well-being, such as physical activities, how to improve sleep, social connections, and more. To add, the site includes a large amount of self-help information for students on a wide variety of common sources of distress to help with the students’ wellness. The website also provides peer support groups through “Togetherall,” an online platform to help students converse with other students sharing the same feelings, which has trained professionals on hand 24/7, 365 days a year. If you are ever concerned about another student, the UCWC can help guide students on what to do and who to talk to, along with what to do if the student refuses help. If you or anyone you know suffers from anxiety, depression, or any other mental health disorder, there is always hope, and the battle does not need to be fought alone. For more information on all the resources listed, visit University Counseling and Wellness Center | University of South Alabama.