Take care of your mental health

College students have so much on their plates: balancing school work, possibly a part- or full-time job, family life and a social life — not to mention taking care of their mental and physical health — is a tough task for anybody. It's no wonder that stress, anxiety and depression are common mental health issues found in people of this age group.

"I think anxiety and depression certainly go hand in hand with trying to face the number of changes that students go through: leaving home, having the pressures of academia, leaving their support systems with friends — so many changes all at once can either create anxiety and depression or exacerbate pre-existing anxiety and depression," explained Dr. Barb Richardson, a local Psychologist.

"You're undergoing a lot of changes and sometimes it's hard to identify those changes about yourself," she continued. "If you're starting to feel that the anxiety or depression or other symptoms are getting too great, call your contact people like parents or friends, but certainly get into professional help like the counselling centre at Fanshawe or some of those other resources."

The staff in Counselling and Accessibility Services at Fanshawe, located in F2010, see approximately 25 to 30 per cent of the student population every year, according to Lois Wey, Manager of the department. The services offered there are confidential, free to students and there is no waiting list to get in.

"We just welcome people ... they don't have to talk about the symptoms or conditions; all of that sounds very medical," explained Wey. "If something's troubling them, just come in and speak with someone. Together they'll figure (it out). We all have times when we feel sad and confused, when the world is not treating us very well; it's just helpful to confidentially consult with someone about your very personal business."

"People come for all different kinds of personal issues," she continued. "It may be as simple as 'Wow, I'm new to London, I'm feeling lonely, I'm a little homesick...' to people who are having eating disorders, are at suicide risk, have mental health issues, depression, anxiety, stress, challenges with their relationships and their roommate situation and people questioning if they're in the right academic program."

Wey added that the counsellors at Counselling and Accessibility Services can help students get to the root of whatever is causing feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. "People will get what they need here. All of our counsellors are professionally trained and are qualified to do mental health counselling, personal counselling." Every counsellor has at least a Master's degree and real-world experience with clinical placements, internships in counselling or through years in practice.

Counselling and Accessibility Services offers two different types of appointments. Students can call or come in to schedule a 50-minute appointment, which can take place within the week. For matters that can't wait, students may schedule a same-day appointment. "Every day we have 24 half-hour appointments that we schedule first come, first served," explained Wey. "They're for students who are feeling that there's an urgent need that they need to speak with someone that day."

"We do work in what we would call a solution-focused model of counselling," she said. "We find that most students are well served in three or four appointments, but there would be some students who need more, and other students who would come and see us one time to talk something out."

Counselling and Accessibility also offers assistance with school to people who have a permanent disability, whether it's a mental health issue, vision or hearing impairment, a learning disability or something else. The supports these students receive may include peer tutoring, note-taking assistance, textbooks in alternate formats, additional time for tests and more. "Students with disabilities still have to meet the same learning outcomes as any other student," said Wey. "It's not modifying the program, it's simply accommodating their disability so they're on a level playing field with other students."

Another mental health resource that students may find helpful is iCopeU (icopeu.com/fanshawe), which can also be accessed through the student portal page on MyFanshawe. "iCopeU is a wonderful resource for students with any kind of mental health issues," said Wey. The website offers resources and information for anyone struggling with a mental health issue or anyone who thinks their friend may be. The site also has games and a wealth of information in the form of a lib guide, which was put together by the Fanshawe Library staff.

"We're really proud of it," said Wey. "I think our biggest challenge is that sometimes people know they have a (problem) but they don't really want to come in; they may feel that there's a stigma or they don't have time or they think about it at 2 a.m. when we're closed, so at least they can get some good information online if they need something in a hurry."

Fanshawe offers fantastic counselling resources, but there are many ways to get help off campus as well.

People who are having severe mental health problems can reach the London Mental Health Crisis Service at 519-433-2023. "That would be for people who need a quick evaluation about such things as suicidal thoughts or being out of touch with reality," explained Dr. Richardson. "If you call there or you call there on behalf of a friend, they can usually see you within 24 hours and evaluate that."

"If you're feeling suicidal or you think your friend is seriously having suicidal thoughts or actions, then you should call 911 or go immediately to the emergency room," she added.

211 Ontario, created by the provincial government, is also a great resource to turn to. People who call 211 speak to a live person, who can empathize with their problems and provide solutions, linking callers to over 56,000 services and agencies, according to the 211ontario.ca website. The phone service is open 24/7, and is available in over 150 languages.

People with mental health issues may also find comfort in a weekly support group called Connect. The group meets every Thursday at the Central location of the London Public Library (251 Dundas St.). The group is led by people who have lived through mental illness, and anything shared with the group will remain confidential. For more information, visit connectformentalhealth.org.

If you are struggling with a mental health issue, know you are not alone. Read below for information on where to get help.

Where to get help

211 Ontario
211ontario.ca
211 - Phone service available 24/7

CMHA Crisis Services
http://london.cmha.ca/programs_services/london-mental-health-crisis-service/#.UhdgzHKleSp
Phone: 519-433-2023

Fanshawe's Counselling and Accessibility Services
www.fanshawec.ca/counselling
519-452-4282
Room F2010
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Connect Peer Support Group
connectformentalhealth.org
message@connectformentalhealth.org
251 Dundas St.
Weekly meetings on Thursdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m., check website for details

iCopeU
icopeu.com/fanshawe

London Regional Psychological Association
lrpa.ca
List of psychologists in the city
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