Resources for students battling mental health
Mental health is a major struggle for college students across the country. Nearly 40% of college students screened positive for moderate to severe depression.
Fresno State is home to over 25,000 students and according to the averages around 9,000 students are battling with mental health.
Lorena Bernal is a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee and a fourth-year nutrition major. She deals with diagnosed depression and anxiety, which affects her daily life.
“I think the biggest struggle for me is keeping up with school work. It’s because I don’t have a lot of motivation, so it’s just really hard to keep up with everything, especially because I’m really involved on campus.”
This feeling is emanated by many students on campus since the resources to help improve mental health may not be known to everyone.
“I don’t really get the luxury of having a break,” said Anahid Valencia, a digital journalism major. “And if I want one, then that comes at a major cost to my work and my school so it can definitely feel like a hamster wheel sometimes.”
The Student Health and Counseling Center at Fresno State offers a plethora of support for students struggling.
They have a vast telehealth system that over 1,200 students used last school year for those not fully comfortable with face-to-face assistance.
While the feeling may be daunting, the Health Center also offers individual and group counseling.
Individual counseling is limited to staff, but group counseling has been a point of emphasis.
“While individual counseling offers personalized attention, group counseling adds the powerful dynamic of learning from others’ insights, practicing communication skills in a safe environment, and reducing feelings of isolation,” said Etisha Wilbon, director of counseling and psychological services. “It’s also a flexible, resource-efficient option that complements individual therapy and can sometimes be just as effective, depending on the student’s needs.”
Wilbon said that most students show up to just listen at first, but eventually share their experiences.
Additional resources are available at the Health Center’s website.