Pinnacle Newspaper 2024

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It’s Times Like These We Live to Learn Again BY TREVA ADKINS It’s no secret that the uncertainty, isolation, and constant conflict of the Covid era is having lasting effects on our population as a whole. Even as we walk to class, meet for lunch or attend a student life event, for many, the scars are still tender. College students face numerous tests on their mental health. It’s a transitional time in life where financial pressures, academic and familial obligations can take a toll on anyone. There are mental health resources available on campus. Pierce College provides short-term counseling services to enrolled students free of charge. Talk-therapy can help students address personal and emotional issues. Even with the aid of mental health professionals, chronic depression can make sufferes feel help- less and lonely. The brain is physically altered by these negative thought habits and changing the patterns might be as simple as try- ing something new. Then do it again. And again. And again. In a recent study on chronic depression, researchers have high- lighted the impact of learning a new skill in alleviating those negative patterns. The re- sults suggest that the process of acquiring a new skill not only stimu- lates the brain but also contributes to a significant improvement in mental well-being. 20
“Learning to play the piano has been a transformative journey for me. It gave me something positive to focus on, a reason to get out of bed each day.” Sarah Thompson Participants diagnosed with chronic depression enrolled in various skill-based activities, ranging from art and music to coding and cooking. Over the course of the study, participants consistently reported a noticeable improvement in mood and a reduction in feelings of sadness and hopelessness. The therapeutic benefits of acquiring new skills extend beyond the immediate sense of achievement. Participants reported an enhanced sense of purpose, increased self-esteem, and a greater ability to cope with stress. This holistic approach to mental health treatment has the potential to complement existing treatments. Lois Ridgley, MS LMFT explains: “When a person is willing to learn a new skill, it changes the emotional climate of their days, and is often a first step in managing depression.” The groundbreaking research raises questions about the traditional approaches to managing chronic depression, paving the way for a more diversified and personalized approach to mental health care. As society wrestles with increasing mental health challanges, the prospect of a simple and effective new tool, learning a new skill, emerges as a beacon of hope for those seeking to help themselves in finding effective, sustainable ways to overcome chronic depression. 21 THRIVING WHILE LEARNING Student resources are available WWW.PIERCE.CTC.EDU/MENTALHEALTH
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Page 5 and 6: “I was thrilled to learn that it
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Pinnacle Newspaper 2024

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