The number of students who are seeking counselling has risen by more than 50% in the last decade. This is a surprising figure, and the majority of them are in the last academic year.
Now you might be questioning why one would need counselling for mental health even before they have a job or a family. Surely, it cannot be just the peer pressure and stiff competition for a good-paying job.
But anxiety does not differentiate age or gender. A lot of these youngsters are dealing with it more than their parents did during their heydays. According to researchers, anxiety is the number one cause for young adults seeking help. The most common triggers behind this are attributed to:
- Pressure from family to succeed academically
- Personal expectations to excel
- Intense pressure related to social media
- Problems with finances
- Awareness about mental health
How can anxiety affect young adults?
Apart from anxiety, a growing number of students also are reported to exhibit self-harming tendencies and struggling to find an identity. All of these can be detrimental to their overall health. The effect can be mental as well as physical. These include:
• Panic attacks
• Stress
• Isolation
• Constant worry
• Social anxiety
• Withdrawal from others
Vulnerable students
Although mental health problems do not discriminate, in young adults some are more vulnerable than others. They are:
- Students with learning, physical or mental disability.
- Those who have a family history of mental problems.
- Non-native students, such as immigrants and exchange students.
The facts and figures can be disconcerting, but there is also a ray of hope. The increasing awareness around mental health is encouraging young adults to seek counselling. This is an excellent thing because removing the stigma around it can save a lot of our youngsters.
