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6 Ways College Students Can Improve Their Mental Health
Keyanna Metts '25 is a student at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. She is majoring in Advertising & Marketing Communications.
Mental Health is something that everyone struggles with from time to time, especially college students. “Anxiety and depression are the two top concerns that lead college students to seek help from their college counseling centers,” said Stephanie Dixon, MSW, LICSW, director of JWU Providence Counseling Services.
The recent pandemic has increased feelings of loneliness and disconnection too, she said.
In fact, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 14% of college students say their mental health has gotten worse or stayed the same, while only 10% of students say that they haven’t been struggling with their mental health, according to a Student Voice Survey. With these results in mind, we all need to take the time to reach our friends and family — because you never know what anyone else is going through.
Here are six ways you can improve your mental health:
1. Journal
Writing down your thoughts can give you a feeling of relief. As a college student transitioning into adulthood, you might feel embarrassed talking about your inner thoughts. Journaling gives you a way to share your feelings and express gratitude for all of the people in your life and good things that you are grateful for every day. Writing could help ease your mind a bit until you feel more comfortable talking to someone in person.
Journaling gives you a way to share your feelings and express gratitude for all of the people in your life and good things that you are grateful for every day.
2. Enjoy Nature!
The peaceful sounds of nature can really help you feel calm and enjoy your time outside without any distractions.
At JWU Providence, Gaebe Commons is a good place to go if you are on campus. You can get a blanket and chill with friends on the grass or do homework outside just to get some sunlight. And you’ll feel less lonely because you’ll be surrounded by other students who play games that maybe you can join!
If your campus is in an urban area, you can also take a walk around the city and see all of the shops or find a nice park to walk in. Check out some favorite student spots around JWU’s Providence Campus and Charlotte Campus.
Take advantage of student travel opportunities, too. JWU Providence has special day trips such as going to Boston, Six Flags and New York. You and your friends can get excited about and plan your day out and get a change of scenery.
You can also take the ferry from Providence to Newport on your own and have a fun day trip! It can be very affordable, and the ride is only an hour long.
3. Spend Time with Friends and Loved Ones
Sometimes, we just need our favorite people to help us get back to ourselves again. While you’re in college you’re going to make amazing friends that, when you talk to express how you’ve been feeling, are there to listen. When you spend time with your loved ones, you’ll have this feeling of comfort that could let you know that you’re not alone.
Something you can do with your friends is play music and walk around campus or the city. In many downtown areas like Providence’s DownCity, there are scooters that you and your friends can rent to have fun and just ride around the city. There are also roller-skating nights on Fridays at the Providence Rink. Everyone can enjoy themselves and see the nice city lights at night, as you’re skating and listening to music.
4. Do Something You Enjoy or Try Something New
Finding even one thing that you enjoy doing can help you feel better as well. Do the things you always wanted to do and find things to look forward to — and get excited about it! Maybe you’ll find a new passion. You don’t have to be good at it, as long as you love to do it and it makes you happy!
Changing your everyday routine from time to time can also help keep your day from being repetitive; you can go try that new restaurant or learn a new skill that you always wanted to have or do something that you always wanted to try. For example, if modeling has interested you, JWU has amazing fashion shows that you could be a part of. There’s a club called International Fashion Society.
Definitely something you and your friends should try is going out and getting dressed up and treating yourself. Especially when you’re feeling like you’re being hard on yourself, you have to open your eyes and actually see how far you have come in college. Be kind to yourself, and be proud of yourself. It’s okay to hype yourself up!
Be kind to yourself, and be proud of yourself. It’s okay to hype yourself up!
5. Get Moving!
Most college students have access to fitness centers to keep them moving because physical activity is good for you! JWU Providence students can use the gym in Wales Hall on the DownCity Campus or use the Harborside Campus gym, while Charlotte Campus Wildcats can use their big campus fitness center.
And if working out isn’t your thing, try playing out! JWU has 27 varsity sports teams in 15 different sports, or you can play an intramural game of any sport you want. Keep an eye out for opportunities at JWU to participate in anything from yoga to cardio kickboxing to ping pong. Any movement can be a good movement! "Maintaining our mental health is a process, just like taking care of our physical health," said Dixon.
6. Try Therapy
It's normal to have mixed opinions and feelings on going to therapy if you've never been before. Sometimes things that have worked for you in the past don’t help you like they once did. If you have never tried to talk to someone with knowledge and experience on how to overcome emotional barriers, this is a good time to let someone hear your story and help you through the things that you may have thought were impossible to get over. Dixon said, "Students seek support from Counseling Services for a variety of reasons — there is no concern too big or too small — it is important to ask for help when you need it."
Everyone needs someone to listen to, and sometimes it’s not our friends or family. It can be a comfort to know that at least one person in this crazy world will sit and listen to you and give you the advice that you need.
It can be a comfort to know that at least one person in this crazy world will sit and listen to you and give you the advice that you need.
On that note, Johnson & Wales University is here for you and can be there for you when you need it. They have counseling services to support students. Anytime you need to talk, you can go to Wales Hall or call 401-598-1016 to make an appointment in Providence, or go to Cedar Hall South or call 980-598-1710 in Charlotte. Whichever campus you’ve chosen, JWU is here for you!
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