On an average day around 120 people choose that their life is not worth anything, therefore they end it by committing suicide. As college students, we are faced with the brutal reality that 1 out of our 5 friends are facing some sort of mental illness without any knowledge.
College is one of the top stressors in a person's life whether they are breezing by or struggling. In college we attempt to balance a social life, educational life, extracurriculars, jobs and that is where mental health slowly slips through the cracks. It was only in 2017 when one of our fellow Pirates chose that they weren't needed on this earth.
As a fellow Pirate and a human being, we have to stop thinking that mental illnesses are a joke when in fact it's one of the most heartbreaking illnesses a person may have because most of the time, it is all internal. By being aware of how serious a person's mental health is will help each person get a sense if their friends (or self) are having any mental health issues.
So, why is it that people, especially college students, joke about "killing themselves" or "being depressed"?
- They are uncomfortable with the actual meanings of having such an illness.
- They try to seem "cool' … umm what??
- They think it's funny … how in the world..
- They are actually struggling and throwing subtle hints. .. pay attention
Here are a few tips on what mental illnesses are and how to catch those hints in your friends!
1. Anxiety Disorder-excessive amounts of stress, overthinking, worrying. May run to the bathroom before a test, or during. Also, may start sweating in the weirdest times.
2. Depression- the feeling of sadness, loss of interest in favorite activities. May choose to stay in when they normally go out, lack/more sleep, and even being out of it during conversations.
3. Eating Disorder-not eating the normal amount, eating large meals once a day, going to the bathroom directly after eating any meal. May make sly comments about being hungry then refusing to eat, not eating normally, only eat once a day, look much thinner without going to the gym or eating.
4. Personality Disorder-constant mood swings, change in relationships and even different behaviors. May flip for no reason then be nice 2 minutes later, may take a different turn when choosing sexual partners (bad relationships) and may turn hostile.
For any mental health issues, no one is alone!!
ECU Cares- 252-328-6661
Emergency- 911
National Suicide Prevention Hotline- 1-800-273-8255
