World Mental Health Day is this Saturday, October 10. About 1 in 5 people suffer from at least one form of mental illness, which, in 2017, was over 46 million Americans. Furthermore, a study of college students by Healthline found that 39% of students were struggling with at least one mental illness in 2016. One major environmental influence on mental health is stress, which may in part explain why the rate at which college students report mental illness is higher than the general population. If I could pick one word to describe 2020, it would be “stressful.” Between COVID-19, widespread social unrest, economic depression, upcoming presidential election, and navigating a new “socially-distant” world, this particular journey around the sun has presented more challenges than any year college students have experienced thus far. Of course, this year may not be uniquely difficult for everyone; some may find working from home and distancing from others to be a breath of fresh air. Others may have experienced incredibly difficult years before this one that make 2020 look easy in comparison. However, for the many people that find themselves anxious, overwhelmed, distraught, exhausted, or upset after this year’s events, World Mental Health Day 2020 may seem particularly meaningful. The World Health Organization writes that due to the increased demand for mental health care on the already underfunded industry, the goal for this year’s World Mental Health Day is to increase investment in mental health and, more specifically, mental health programs. In an effort to campaign for mental health programs, WHO is hosting The Big Event for Mental Health, which they describe as “an unprecedented online advocacy event that will call for increased investment in mental health at all levels—from individuals to businesses to countries to civil society—so that the world can begin to close the gaps [in mental health treatment availability].” The Big Event is free, open to the public, and will be broadcasted on October 10 (World Mental Health Day) from 10:00 AM (EST) – 1:00PM on WHO’s social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok). If you or a loved one are struggling with your mental health, please visit this link which lists the various Ohio State mental health resources available to help you. Additionally, keep up with the Be Well Blog and the Student Wellness Center’s social media pages for future wellness tips.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/college-frosh-mental-health