Student Stress: Why It’s More Common Than You Think, And When To Recommend Counselling

Do you remember what it was like to enter university for the first time? While you no doubt remember making new friends, studying something new, and of course partying, you might have forgotten how stressful the experience can be. Moving into campus without knowing anyone and having to manage your own studying/eating/sleeping schedule can take a while getting used to. If you know someone who’ll be attending university for the first time, here’s how you can check to see if they’re coping, and what you should do if you suspect they aren’t.

A recent report released by the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health (Orygen) revealed that Australia’s 1.4 million university students are more likely to suffer from stress and poor mental health than other young adults of the same age. Understandably, there isn’t a single cause of this. Experts cite things like a lack of sleep, a poor diet, being away from friends and family, academic pressure, financial stress and student loan debt as a few of the causes for student stress, anxiety and depression.

It’s common for students to have a rough few months before finding their feet. As they get used to their new schedule and start making new friends,most students start to relax and find their personal rhythm. However, not all students experience this, and it’s something to be concerned about as Australians aged between 18-25 are most at risk of developing amental illness.

So how can you tell if a student is experiencing stress or more serious conditions? Here are a few common signs that might be displayed by a student in distress:

• Missing classes, meetings or appointments
• Failing or getting poor grades in their studies
• Emotional outbursts (crying or rage)
• Poor self-care (skipping meals, not sleeping, not showering or leaving their room)

These symptoms could indicate that a student is struggling and needs help. Counselling would help anyone in this situation, so if you think that someone you know and love could benefit from it, don’t hesitate to get in touch with someone who can offer counselling services such as the team at Psylegal.

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