For many college students, going to college is the first time they’ve been away from their built-in support system at home. Stepping onto campus for the first time feels lonely and overwhelming as they learn to take care of themselves independently. Combined with course workload and partying, the pressure of a college lifestyle isn’t sustainable for young adults who lack healthy coping mechanisms. It is not surprising that mental health issues are becoming more prevalent on college campuses.
Common Mental Health Issues among Young Adults
Transitioning to adulthood can be a big leap from the carefreeness of adolescence to taking on more responsibilities. Many young adults become preoccupied with trying to establish personal goals and end up feeling directionless. As a result, a lot of students enter college unprepared. Suicidal thinking, severe depression and rates of self-injury among U.S. college students more than doubled over less than a decade, a nationwide study suggests.
- Depression
- Thoughts of suicide
- Insecurity in relationships
- Poor sleep quality
- Technology addiction
- Frequent or excessive substance use
Why are Young Adults Less Likely to Reach Out?
Young adulthood is a critical time for personal exploration and experiential learning. The coping mechanisms they adopt and the relationships they form influence their adult mental health. However, many young adults understand that their “college years” are meant to be transitional and expect things to fall into place once they launch their career. The longer they bury struggles with mental health issues, the less likely they are to stay motivated to reach their goals or to find the same level of satisfaction in their achievements.
There are a few factors that may influence how young adults reach out for help:
- Lack of knowledge around resources. While most colleges have counseling services, many students don’t know how to access them. They may struggle with booking appointments or knowing what their treatment goals might be if they were to reach out.
- Fear of being judged by their new peers. They may worry that they would be rejected or viewed differently. Many young adults hesitate to reach out to teachers to ask for help academically or explain how their mental health has interfered with their academic performance because they don’t know how they might respond.
- Fear of disappointing others. Most young adults hold high expectations for themselves to succeed and believe that their achievement is linked to gaining approval from others, especially their parents. Reaching out for help would mean admitting that they don’t feel successful.
- Determination to be self-sufficient. Many young adults are eager to become more independent and believe that asking for help is a sign that they are not capable of doing things on their own. This view of independence is not always realistic, as even adults need support
Connecting Young Adults to Resources
According to a 2018 report based on data from nearly 200 college campuses, the percentage of students seeking college counseling services between 2007 and 2017 rose from 19 to 34 percent, and the percentage of those with mental illness diagnoses rose from 22 to 36 percent. Due to the significant increase in demand, there has been a shift towards community-based support through outreach and education to help young adults find a healthier balance between their emotional lives and their academic goals.
Transitional living programs help connect young adults to resources in the community while offering emotional support for young adults struggling to find their role. Students are encouraged to take college courses and receive academic support in organization, time management, study skills. Mentors work with students to help them identify core values that may align with their future goals.
Foundations Asheville Can Help
Foundations Asheville is a young adult transition program located in the mountains of North Carolina. The program serves young adults age 18-25 who are looking to acquire the tools to make the transition from adolescence to life as an independent adulthood. Foundations helps young adults aspire to find meaning, direction, relationships, and self-reliance in their lives. At Foundations, we strive to create a full and rewarding life through an individualized combination of education, vocation training, community service, healthy lifestyle skills, relationship building, and participation in a genuine community of peers.
For more information, contact us at 18773187273.
The Foundations Team” profile “We work tirelessly to empower individuals with the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in their personal and professional lives. To contact our admissions team, call (877) 318-7273
