"Students' mental health becomes vulnerable at the college stage."

Stress due to academic pressure, development of mental disorders or imbalance of healthy habits. These are some of the consequences that students may experience during the university stage. Anxiety and depression are the most common disorders that appear and for which it is important to take care of healthy habits.

Mental health in students is on the table after having been hidden for years. The increase in student distress has made it more visible to the world. To better understand the implications of anxiety disorders and depression in the university environment, we spoke with Ursula Paiva Vargas, general health psychologist and staff researcher at training in Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra. This expert is currently developing the doctoral thesis "Mental health and well-being of university students".

Paiva, 27, from Peru, holds two master's degrees, one in General Health Psychology and the other in Family and Couples Therapy. She specializes in topics such as emotions, mental health, psychotherapy, online therapy and clinical psychology. The expert is currently researching mental health as part of the ICS team. In addition, she collaborates in COMPASS, the orientation and wellbeing unit for students at the University of Navarra.

How do you define the transition to the university stage?

It is like a milestone core topic in every person's life story. We leave behind our safe part, our home and our parents -even though many still live with them- to start assuming new responsibilities in the adult world. It is a stage where you stop being a child and start being an adult.

Do you think it is a topic of concern today?

I think it is a topic that is being addressed more and more, because we are seeing an increase in generalized discomfort on the part of students and it is also having a lot of repercussion on the mental health side, which is reflected in the academic, social and staff.

Why does this change affect so much?

For the very fact that it is a milestone in life history. It is a stage of many changes in many aspects of life. College students are no longer under the protection of their parents, or not so much anymore. They are developing their own identity and assuming what comes with it in this new stage. This change is board with the biological process of maturation of students where they may develop psychiatric or mental illnesses.

How does it affect?

They may derive stress from academic pressure, they may develop mental disorders and there may also be an imbalance in healthy habits due to lack of time. The misuse of time is precisely what leads to stress. Depression is also the most common mental disorder. It is very likely that at least one in five people suffer from it at some point in their lives.

What factors influence the mental health of students?

Many factors influence this stage. Mainly, academic pressure because, many times, there is an excessive academic load that is different from the load they had in high school. Social pressure also influences, the desire to feel part of or be part of a group group of friends.

However, other factors can also play a role, such as major life transitions: financial problems, physical health problems, pressures to make important decisions, and uncertainty about the future.

What about the COVID, what role has the COVID played in the mental health of students?

The pandemic put us in a status of vulnerability in which we were kept away from our loved ones and young people were just at the stage where the most important thing was to relate. Socialization with other people was affected. In addition, living with uncertainty for a long time, not knowing how long the pandemic would last or when it would end, led to an increase in cases of anxiety and depression.

You mentioned academic pressure earlier, how do you deal with that pressure?

Sometimes you try very hard to get good grades, but you don't always get them. Then, you have to be aware of your expectations, because they are often dashed. It is important to be aware that, for example, an exam is not our whole life. You have to keep in mind that only the exam went badly and that doesn't mean that you are a bad professional. Many times, we are going to have to adjust expectations to be aware of this. Also set limits because, in many cases, there is pressure from parents or pressure on oneself to give more of oneself.

To what extent can obtaining a bad grade have an influence?

It all depends on what factors are involved. If it was just a bad grade, you may feel worse about yourself or feel that your effort was not worthwhile. It may also be that your sense of being good at something disappears. However, if there are other factors involved, such as parental pressure or going through a rough patch for a particular reason and, in addition, basic habits are being dropped. These factors may result in a deterioration in their emotional well-being or self-esteem.

Prevention workshops

Do you think universities care about these issues?

I know that some universities have a psychology and care unit at student. Others have prevention activities. In my opinion, I believe that it never hurts to carry out activities for promote emotional well-being. For example, at our university there is COMPASS, a student counseling unit. In addition, workshops have been created within the unit of the Health and Wellness Unit aimed precisely at preventing all this. There are workshops on how to organize time, how to prevent stress before exams or how to take care of basic habits, among others.

What else can you tell us about the COMPASS initiative?

COMPASS is the orientation and welfare unit of the university. It is a support and counseling service offered to students in order to guide them through their time at the university. From management of time and stress, to guidance on personal issues or any difficulties that may be experiencing the student. In addition, other activities such as workshops are developed.

And what is the role of parents?

Their role is very important because, in my opinion, everything derives from the family. The family is the main pillar where they are educated, where they develop and where they learn to be adults by taking their parents as an example. Having parents present is core topic, having good communication and a close relationship with them is fundamental to grow well and receive good guidance.

How important is it to talk to someone if you have a mental health problem?

It is very important because, on the one hand, you can feel supported and they can guide you. On the other hand, you can feel identified and say "the same thing happened to me and what I did was to go to a professional". Or, simply, they can give you emotional support, which is fundamental because many of our worries can be solved by talking to others. We are social beings, social support is essential, especially at this stage when young people need to relate to others.

Why do you think there are students who don't talk about it and find it hard to admit they have a problem?

Many times it happens because of embarrassment, lack of knowledge from topic or because no one has talked to them about it and they feel it is not the usual thing to do. Another point that prevents them from going to a professional is not assuming that they need financial aid from someone else. Many times they think they can overcome it on their own and, unfortunately, until they reach a very low point, they do not decide to turn to a professional. The first step is to accept it, to assume that you need financial aid.

In reality, it is something normal. It is true that mental health has been a topic taboo for a long time but it is becoming more and more visible. It is true that, in order to go to a professional, you have to have accepted that you have something to work on. If you have not reached that point it will be very difficult to work on it because you are not predisposed to do so.

What are the possible repercussions of not talking about topic?

It can affect the person a lot. People are like sponges, we absorb a lot and, if we absorb too many emotions and do not externalize them or do not bring out what we have inside, we will explode. It is very important to talk about it with other people. On the one hand, to feel understood and supported and, on the other hand, because it is therapeutic to talk to others. We are born in relationship and we heal in relationship as well.

Suicidal thoughts

Is the possibility of suicide among one of these repercussions?

Yes. When we have been swallowing emotions and thoughts for a long time, depressive symptoms can appear and, among them, suicidal thoughts can also appear. This is something very serious because it is already affecting your own life and can have very drastic consequences.

How can health be prioritized?

Healthy habits such as sleep, nutrition and sports are core topic . If we do not have these healthy habits, our mental health will deteriorate. We should try to sleep the period of hours recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is between six and nine hours, depending on the person. The usual is seven or eight. Healthy eating habits should also be followed, such as the Mediterranean diet per diem expenses . In addition, doing physical exercise throughout the week financial aid to reduce stress levels that may arise during the university stage. Also financial aid to regulate mood and symptoms of anxiety or depression.

What advice would you give to students to face the university stage?

Again, taking good care of healthy habits is essential. They should also organize themselves well so that college is not only their priority. They should keep in mind that there is life beyond college. Rest and free time should be taken care of because, many times, the fact of dedicating time to "hobbies" will help to maintain emotional wellbeing.