Mental health conditions have 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, peers or mentors and seek assistance.
- Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
- Severe, out-of-control risk-taking behaviors
- Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason
- Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight
- Seeing, hearing or believing things that are not real
- Repeatedly and excessively using drugs or alcohol
- Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits
- Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still
- Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
- Trying to harm oneself or planning to do so.
It can be difficult to know whether what you are experiencing is an early sign of an emerging mental health condition or part of adjusting to college.
You don’t have to know the answer to that question. Listen to your mind and body. If you are not feeling right and are having trouble shaking that feeling, then talk with someone who can help you sort things out and help you decide what kind of support or care you need. Look further down this page at the ‘Support Service Links at Your School’ section as a place to start the conversation.
You are not alone: Student stories of mental health
There are situations that can trigger and affect your mental health. To some, they may seem like a normal occurrence that happens to everyone. To others, the mental strain associated with the event can be overwhelming. Be aware of these stressors and think about how they have or could affect your mental health.
- Relationship breakups
- Academic pressures
- Poor grades
- Financial stress
- Social status pressures
- Feeling alone or homesick
- Feeling marginalized, misunderstood or like you don’t fit in
- Concern or worry about your family members at home
- Loss of day-to-day family or community support
- Drug and alcohol use
- Inadequate sleep
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Grief
- Gender and sexuality questioning
- Friendship challenges
- Sports team losses
- Unmet expectations