How to Help

10 common warning signs that should be taken seriously

If you or someone you know experiences one or more of these signs, you should talk with trusted family, friends, or our JWCC counselor.

  1. Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
  2. Severe, out-of-control risk-taking behaviors
  3. Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason
  4. Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight
  5. Seeing, hearing or believing things that are not real
  6. Repeatedly and excessively using drugs or alcohol
  7. Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits
  8. Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still
  9. Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
  10. Trying to harm oneself or planning to do so

Prevalence and risk of mental health issues in college. It is more common than you think and you are not alone, people just do not advertise it. Everyone should take care of their mental health since there are increased risks during college. Mental health is affected by the stress of college life. It can happen to anybody. Everyone has problems, stresses and challenges in life and sometimes need help to address them. More people than you realize are getting help.

You Are Not Alone. Know The Truth…

  • Almost one third of all college students re-port having felt so depressed that they had trouble functioning.
  • Mental health issues in the college student population, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, are associated with lower GPA and higher probability of dropping out of college.
  • More than 80 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by all they had to do in the past year and 45 percent have felt things were hopeless.
  • An estimated 26 percent of Americans ages 18 and older – or about 1 in 4 adults – live with a diagnosable mental health disorder
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among college students, claiming the lives of 1,100 students each year.

Help Yourself Or Someone Else

Here are some key points you can communicate to a friend in need.

We all go through tough times. Sometimes people see asking for help as a sign of weakness so you can comfort your friend by giving them an example of a time you or someone you know struggled and needed support.

You can feel better. Your friend may feel hopeless or like no one can understand or help them, so it’s important to make them see that reaching out for support is the first step to feeling better. Mental health problems are treatable and manageable once identified, so sometimes we need a mental check-up in the same way we get other medical exams.

It’s OK to ask for help. Remember that our backgrounds, cultures and experiences can have a huge impact on how we view help-seeking. Some people may come from families or cultures where asking for help or seeing a mental health professional is shunned or thought of as weak. Thinking about why a friend might be reluctant to get help can be important in deciding how to suggest they reach out for support.

If you are concerned that a friend is thinking about harming themselves or someone else, it is important that you don’t try and deal with that situation alone.

Full body shot of Teresa BertelliTeresa Bertelli
Coordinator of Counseling Services
Phone: 217.641.4360
Email Teresa