Students' emotional health a growing concern

Your palms are sweating, your heart is racing, and you can't eat or sleep. You're always tired and you have developed a new habit of biting your nails. There is no money for books, bills, or food, and you are stressed out.

 Sound familiar? According to an annual study conducted by University of California, Los Angeles, the emotional health of college freshmen has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years. The survey, "The National Freshmen: National Norms Fall 2010," is the most comprehensive study of full-time students at four-year colleges, and includes data from 200,000 students.

Students should reach out for help when feelings start to get out of control. "When students can't help themselves…come to the health center," Robyn Huetter, a nurse at American River College said."We can refer them to outside counseling, or they can come and talk to us so we can set a game plan."

Anxiety has risen among college students, especially in the last few years of the recession. The price for education has gone up and is still increasing. Students are forced to work more hours each week to pay for school.

"One reason anxiety has gone up is the economy… people are losing jobs, have to find a place to live, no health insurance, and less money for transportation. The budget is affecting the bus routes and the light rail too," Huetter said.

The anxiety from economic hardships may even start with parents. Students see their parents losing jobs and being forced to move to cheaper homes. This family stress can trickle down and play a part in the student's anxiety.

"This has been a problem for years, but more and more people don't have health insurance, so we're seeing more students come in," Huetter said.

The health center, as well as counseling, disabled student services, and the police are there for students to utilize. The health center will help students in need, but because ARC does not have either a psychologist or social worker on campus, students must be referred to outside resources for any further treatment.

This is a problem that Cosumnes River College has already solved. CRC has a social worker that comes to the college campus specifically to help the students with anxiety issues -- or other mental health needs -- twice a week.

When asked why CRC has a social worker and not ARC, Huetter suggested that someone at CRC could be networked with someone at the County health department. Huetter would like to see the same resource become available on the ARC campus.

With so many students feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed out, it might be helpful to know you're not alone. "If you are having problems with anxiety talk to someone; it doesn't have to be a professional. It could be a friend or family member, or write in a journal," Huetter said. "The idea is when you get things out of your head, they become more manageable."