Prioritizing mental health

As many students can attest, school can be a stressful time, especially around finals. The weeks leading up to the end of the semester are usually flooded with make-or-break exams, group projects with students who do zero work or a bunch of small assignments teachers assign that prevent you from prioritizing other work.

With the whole school year culminating with this stressful period, it’s no wonder so many students feel overwhelmed. A 2024 U.S. News survey across colleges and universities found that about 70% of students said they have struggled with mental health since starting college. Since covid-19, the student mental health crisis has only skyrocketed.

What can be done about this crisis? To start, many schools provide some type of counseling or student therapy resource on campus. Here at St. Joe’s, we have the Counseling and Psychological Services students can utilize for free. A lot of students also develop their own ways of managing their mental health and relieve stress, from exercise to video games. 

As a student, I’ve also discovered my own methods for trying to remain sane. I found that spending time listening to music has a positive impact on me. Listening to my favorite songs, especially ones with slower tempos and calmer vibes, helps my brain relax and puts me in a better mood. I’ve also found that I function better in groups of people, so when I have to study for something particularly stressful, I like to study in groups so I don’t feel alone. 

When students begin feeling alone or like they have nobody they can lean on in a stressful time, that’s often when their mental health takes the biggest hit. With finals quickly approaching, students should find their stress relievers and support group and be prepared to use them during this very stressful and work-filled time.