Rumours of Grace: Rising rates of student suicide and depression
According to a recently published CBC
article, there is a mental health crisis among
Canadian college and university students. A
study of 25,000 students done last spring is
the basis for the claim that rates of anxiety, depression
and suicidal thoughts appear to have
risen since 2013.
In my family, specifically among my children, there continue to be mental health difficulties. Where therapists have been able to make a proper diagnosis and where the correct drug has been administered, the results have been terrific.
Campus counsellors, such as what we have at Fanshawe, can be expected to be a real help to any student who opens up about difficulties such as bi-polar, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and related challenges.
I also think that it can be helpful to be aware of cultural factors that contribute to mental health issues. A half dozen come easily to mind. For example, many students feel pressured to continue in education programs even though they do not have a passion for any particular field of employment or study.
Meanwhile, and here is a second factor, student debts. Students can feel overwhelmed by the unnerving rate at which their debt rises. They may, as our daughter did for a time, completely avoid looking at their bank statements.
A third factor may be that job prospects are not all that great. Manufacturing jobs have taken a severe hit in Ontario and manufacturing is the backbone of our (modern) economy.
Fourth, places to live are becoming more expensive. The price of an average home in London according to the London Free Press last spring was $272,000. That is not chicken feed, but it is modest compared to that of Kitchener at $348,000 and Toronto at $676,000. This means that young people in a number of Canada’s urban centres will face mortgages and payment plans of scary proportions.
And there are more perfectly reasonable causes for anxiety, which can contribute to depression. The climate is warming and the results will not be pretty, terror and war continue to wreak despair in many regions of the planet and the world’s economy, far from giving us a sense of security, appears to be shakier with each passing year.
There have always been problems related to living on this planet. We don’t have a monopoly on disruption and anxiety, but the problems we face today combine to create a sense of hopelessness that is more entrenched and barbed than has been experienced in other historical periods.
At the same time, we increasingly lack a long-term community of grounded people who can see us through seasons of unhappiness and anxiety-producing stress. Nevertheless, there are two kinds of community life that can be of help.
The first is family. No amount of social services can substitute for a healthy family. And although many of us come from families that have been weakened or disrupted by difficulties or by choices some family members make, wherever possible we should draw on the long-term strengths we may find in our parents, grandparents, guardians and our other family members. Many of them have gone through considerably difficult times and will have something to offer us.
The second kind of community that can help is church. Many Canadian students have been connected with churches in their cities or rural areas. And while some have their reasons for being critical of churches (not always without good reason) churches continue not only to exist, but also to offer a community and perspective on life that can truly sustain a person through tough times.
Consider that churches almost universally meet on Sunday mornings. The meetings are voluntary (although sometimes parents “drag” their children): there is usually music; there is prayer; usually someone will say an encouraging word. You are unlikely to be asked for money. If a donation plate or basket is passed around, you will see many people passing it along without adding to it. You will probably be welcomed and be invited to get to know what groups, services and outreach are available. You will likely hear something that is comforting, challenging, inspirational and true.
In many London churches, you will find good youth, young adults, college and university groups; you will often find collections of amateur musicians who do not frequent highrisk environments where there is careless use of alcohol and drugs.
In churches you will typically find awareness that we are not perfect by a good stretch and should look first to God and then to each other for forgiveness. And you will typically find that we should always live in hope because “all things are possible with God”, and that whatever happens in our world, he will bring it to its proper and happy conclusion.
Such things are not going to prevent all anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, but they can surely dampen them. And when they do arise, we will find a little more, and if all goes well, a lot more of the love and support we will need.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
In my family, specifically among my children, there continue to be mental health difficulties. Where therapists have been able to make a proper diagnosis and where the correct drug has been administered, the results have been terrific.
Campus counsellors, such as what we have at Fanshawe, can be expected to be a real help to any student who opens up about difficulties such as bi-polar, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addiction and related challenges.
I also think that it can be helpful to be aware of cultural factors that contribute to mental health issues. A half dozen come easily to mind. For example, many students feel pressured to continue in education programs even though they do not have a passion for any particular field of employment or study.
Meanwhile, and here is a second factor, student debts. Students can feel overwhelmed by the unnerving rate at which their debt rises. They may, as our daughter did for a time, completely avoid looking at their bank statements.
A third factor may be that job prospects are not all that great. Manufacturing jobs have taken a severe hit in Ontario and manufacturing is the backbone of our (modern) economy.
Fourth, places to live are becoming more expensive. The price of an average home in London according to the London Free Press last spring was $272,000. That is not chicken feed, but it is modest compared to that of Kitchener at $348,000 and Toronto at $676,000. This means that young people in a number of Canada’s urban centres will face mortgages and payment plans of scary proportions.
And there are more perfectly reasonable causes for anxiety, which can contribute to depression. The climate is warming and the results will not be pretty, terror and war continue to wreak despair in many regions of the planet and the world’s economy, far from giving us a sense of security, appears to be shakier with each passing year.
There have always been problems related to living on this planet. We don’t have a monopoly on disruption and anxiety, but the problems we face today combine to create a sense of hopelessness that is more entrenched and barbed than has been experienced in other historical periods.
At the same time, we increasingly lack a long-term community of grounded people who can see us through seasons of unhappiness and anxiety-producing stress. Nevertheless, there are two kinds of community life that can be of help.
The first is family. No amount of social services can substitute for a healthy family. And although many of us come from families that have been weakened or disrupted by difficulties or by choices some family members make, wherever possible we should draw on the long-term strengths we may find in our parents, grandparents, guardians and our other family members. Many of them have gone through considerably difficult times and will have something to offer us.
The second kind of community that can help is church. Many Canadian students have been connected with churches in their cities or rural areas. And while some have their reasons for being critical of churches (not always without good reason) churches continue not only to exist, but also to offer a community and perspective on life that can truly sustain a person through tough times.
Consider that churches almost universally meet on Sunday mornings. The meetings are voluntary (although sometimes parents “drag” their children): there is usually music; there is prayer; usually someone will say an encouraging word. You are unlikely to be asked for money. If a donation plate or basket is passed around, you will see many people passing it along without adding to it. You will probably be welcomed and be invited to get to know what groups, services and outreach are available. You will likely hear something that is comforting, challenging, inspirational and true.
In many London churches, you will find good youth, young adults, college and university groups; you will often find collections of amateur musicians who do not frequent highrisk environments where there is careless use of alcohol and drugs.
In churches you will typically find awareness that we are not perfect by a good stretch and should look first to God and then to each other for forgiveness. And you will typically find that we should always live in hope because “all things are possible with God”, and that whatever happens in our world, he will bring it to its proper and happy conclusion.
Such things are not going to prevent all anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, but they can surely dampen them. And when they do arise, we will find a little more, and if all goes well, a lot more of the love and support we will need.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
