Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash

College is a busy and often stressful time. Students have classes, assignments, and studying, in addition to extracurriculars, internships, jobs, and other responsibilities. But this year, college students have taken on the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. While many students are adjusting to a different life on campus, others still are taking classes online at home. Both of these situations are difficult to adapt to and thrive in, and they can take a toll on your mental health. Adapting to changes quickly is difficult, and this situation is no exception. It can be hard to know what to do or where to turn when you’re a college student seeking mental health advice, so here are some ideas about improving your mental health in college. 

Utilize Free Counseling Services

Many colleges offer free counseling services, which are a great way to work on improving your mental health. In an effort to abide by social distancing guidelines, many of these services are now online. You can participate in a phone call or a zoom call rather than going to an office. Not sure if counseling is right for you? Check out this Safe Harbor International article to figure out if counseling is the right choice for you. 

Consider Medication

Another way to consider improving your mental health is to consider taking medication. Medications can have many benefits for all different types of mental illnesses. However, you should talk to your counselor or therapist to find out if this is right for you. They will then refer you to a psychiatrist, who will then prescribe you medication. Many colleges and universities even have psychiatrists who can help you find affordable medications.

Decrease Alcohol Consumption 

While partying and drinking alcohol are well-known college pastimes, many studies show that drinking alcoholic beverages can have negative effects on your mental health. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down your brain function. While many people drink in order to alleviate stress, often binge drinking leads to hangovers, more stress, and self-medication to the point of a serious addiction. All of these can aggravate pre-existing mental health problems. It’s best to cut down on your alcohol consumption or cut it out entirely if you are serious about improving your mental health. 

Don’t Isolate Yourself

College looks and feels different this year. Many people are taking online classes, or are living far away from their family and friends. Others may be near their support system but feel as though the time they can spend with their loved ones is limited due to social distancing practices. If you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s more important than ever to connect to your friends and family. Pick up the phone and call, text, or FaceTime your family. Meet up with a friend and go for a social distanced walk outside. Whatever you do, keep in mind that isolating yourself can aggravate existing mental health problems. Humans were not meant to live alone, and we thrive and grow in communities. Even if it’s hard, I’m encouraging you to just send a text to one person. Your loved ones are there for you. Remember that you are not a burden, and you’re not bringing people down. Your loved ones want to hear how you’re doing.

Spend Time in Nature

Spending time outside is not only fun, but it clears your mind. When you’re outside, you also get vitamin D from the sun, which you don’t get from being inside. Low levels of vitamin D can be linked to depression, so it’s important you get outside! It’s as simple as going outside to do your homework, or taking a walk outside. Many colleges have places to study outside where you can set up hammocks, so you can relax while doing your homework, too! It’s much better than being cooped up in the library, and COVID-19 doesn’t spread as easily outside, either.

Set Healthy Boundaries

Many students in college over-commit themselves. This is easy to do, when there’s so many wonderful opportunities to take advantage of. But sometimes, having too much on your plate can lead to unnecessary stress that exacerbates pre-existing mental health conditions. Remember that it’s okay to say no sometimes when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This might mean not hanging out with your friends one evening when you have a lot of assignments, but it also might mean something bigger too, such as not adding an extra minor to your course load. And that’s okay!

Get Enough Sleep

One of the best things you can do for your body is to get enough sleep. It’s very common for college students to not get enough sleep and to drink too much coffee. But sleep is important! It’s just as important as eating a healthy diet, and drinking water. Poor sleep is linked to mental health problems, and a weakened immune system, so it’s especially important right now when we all need to stay healthy! 

Take Care of Your Body

Taking care of your body is another way to help your mental health. More and more studies are saying that a good diet is just as important to your mental health as it is to your physical health. Make sure that you have a colorful plate at each meal, and be sure to drink enough water! In addition to this, exercising is important too. Many colleges offer free exercise classes or have a gym open to students that they can use for free. While the gym and the exercise classes might look different this year, they’re likely still in effect. Or if you’re looking for something less strenuous, you can dance, or go for a walk or a hike. Be sure to take time to relax when you need it too. Take a nap, stretch, watch some youtube videos, or make some art! The possibilities here are endless. Remember that you aren’t wasting your time and that you’re allowed to take breaks to recharge. 

Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash

Call a Helpline 

If you need immediate help, don’t hesitate to call (or text) a helpline. These helplines can be utilized if you need someone to listen, or want personalized advice about what to do next. Folks on these helplines can also direct you to a therapist in your area, and the conversation is completely confidential. There is no shame in utilizing these numbers, that’s what they are there for!  

Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-827-7571

http://www.crisistextline.org/ 

Conclusion

If you’re still looking for more tips, look at the CDC website regarding mental health during pandemics. For information about other hardships during COVID-19, please look here. Please remember to utilize The Safe Harbor Prayer Garden. There are relaxing prayers to listen to at any time, and we take your submissions for specific prayers you want support with.

Written by Jackie Ebel, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, check out our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/