Did you know that nearly half of all college students reported feeling so depressed that they couldn’t function during the last school year? More than that have faced an emotional problem of some sort. Sometimes these challenges can make it difficult for students to keep up with the demands of college life, and sometimes the impact is even more devastating. In fact, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. With so many people struggling, why is it still hard for us to talk about “mental health?”
Nearly all mental health issues can be improved with proper treatment. When we decrease the stigma around mental health and encourage students to seek help if they need it, we are changing and saving lives.
Through Half of Us, mtvU and The Jed Foundation want to initiate a public dialogue to raise awareness about the prevalence of mental health issues on campus and connect students to the appropriate resources to get help. In planning for the campaign, mtvU conducted extensive research on how stress and depression are affecting college students nationwide. Please
click here to download and executive summary of the 2006 “mtvU College Mental Health Study: Stress, Depression, Stigma & Students.”
Have you or a friend been feeling stressed, anxious, sad, hopeless, irritable or unfocused? It’s “OK” to answer “yes” if that’s the case. These feelings could be a normal part of the college experience, but they could also be something that requires help to overcome. If you were in physical pain, you’d get it checked out. Mental health is just as important. Reach out for support or encourage a friend to ask for help.
Remember, half of us struggle with depression, and all of us have the power to help ourselves and others by fighting the stigma around mental health and speaking up when we need support. Get started:
For more information about Half of Us, to get involved with the campaign or to add your school's resources to the site, please
click here.
