Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 2 No. 5

FARRAH SANDERS
UNDER
PRESSURE
The Strained Relationship between Mental Health
and the Pursuit of Higher Education
As students prepare to enter into the system
of higher education, they are faced with
unprecedented issues. A looming pandemic with
new variants, cultural shifts, civil unrest, and more are
looming over their heads as they navigate new chapters
of life. It’s been generally understood that pursuing a
college degree is no small feat. One’s mental health will
be tested as it’s never been tested before. But it’s time to
get real about the mental health crisis that researchers
have warned us about. We’re in uncharted territory, with
little visible plans.
According to The Healthy Minds Study, 40% of American
college students experienced at least one major depressive
episode that year. 80% of college students reported that
the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted their
mental health in a survey performed by Active Minds.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone in doors and in
a state of concern. Students were asked to go home and
participate in distance learning.
This resulted in self-care routines taking a devastating
hit. According to Active Minds, 76% of students have
trouble maintaining a routine, 73% struggle to get
adequate physical activity and 63% find it challenging to
connect with others. Without adequate exercise or a sense
of community, what can we expect of college students?
The boom of social media usage allowed students to
express just how overwhelmed they are. It was our only
means to participate in a community for some time. Social
media also was the backbone for many social movements
experienced in our time.
The murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor placed
the discussion around the value of Black life at the
forefront. Not only are Black students having to navigate a
looming pandemic with impending assignments; but, now
they are also tasked with having difficult conversations
about institutionalized racism inside and outside of the
classroom.
Mental health is not a new concern among college
students; but, we are entering an age of transparency. In
2010, the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors
reported 44% of their clients having severe psychological
problems. In 2000, they reported 16%. These numbers
may appear daunting but imagine how many students
didn’t feel safe enough to report their concerns in 2000.
Imagine how rigid the stigma around mental health was.
Students of color weren’t even able to recognize the
intersection of mental health and systemic racism in
the way that we can now. Intersections were not even
recognized until the mid-2000s, let alone researched.
We’re able to have these conversations about the running
list of issues that affect our mental wellbeing but we
always end up asking the same question. What now?
The answer is complex and requires effort from every
community, generation, and governing body. However,
this ultimately boils down to transparency. We have to
make mental health a regular topic of conversation.
No one silences the person who screams when they’ve
sustained a bodily injury. So, why are we silencing people
who recognize that they’re struggling mentally?
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