An ongoing mental health crisis is dominating college campuses. Although this fact can be viewed as unfortunate, it is quite understandable as it is crucial to remember the brain does not fully mature until about age twenty-six. So, although eighteen-year-olds are considered adults, they are likely not mentally developed.
During this time in college, whether being in the age of youth or being in their twenties, students’ minds are solely guided by emotions. Thus it is reasonable for students to have the inability to manage their stress, homesickness, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 73 % of students encounter some kind of mental health crisis during their time in college and only 25 % of students who acquire mental health problems seek help. This low percentage can be considered an issue.
There are many reasons for this decline. The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, reports, “On college campuses, the ratio of certified counselors to students overall is about 1:1000-2000 for small to moderate size schools, and 1:2000-3500 for larger universities.” This fact infers there is an astounding lack of services provided by colleges and universities.
Additionally, students get anxious about the possibility of getting marked for having mental health issues. They become concerned about the opinion of their professors and or peers. There is also the concern of students having a lack of knowledge of different disorders or illnesses. This inadequacy results in students living with mental issues without them knowing or being aware but just not taking action.
A possible solution to this crisis is the mobile application called 7 Cups: Online Therapy & Chat. This award-winning app was launched in 2013 to provide on-demand emotional health service and therapy. Anonymously trained listeners are available twenty-four hours, seven days a week to help individuals who are experiencing obstacles.
7 Cups can be resourceful for students dealing with mental health issues. This free app, with available upgrades for $12.99 a month, not only provides listeners but also many other features. These components consist of chat rooms, mindfulness exercises, wellness tests, mood boosters, and informative videos. All of these wonderful resources in the application allow college students to take time for themselves.
For instance, students can anonymously express their issues without the worry or pressure of being judged by peers or professors. The care and emotional support provided by the listeners can help students feel secure. Just as the Elemental Medium has mentioned, research shows that good listeners can help relieve people of their anxiety.
In these sessions, students are also able to learn and understand what they are dealing with and what their triggers are. This way, students are no longer confused in regards to their mental health diagnosis. The chatroom feature will more than likely benefit a student because it provides a community so the student is not alone.
Students can meet others who struggle and realize that it is perfectly normal to have mental health challenges because there are people who understand and support others’ emotions. This application provides convenience, education, community, and tips all to better the mental health of individuals. 7 Cups is more than an ordinary mental health app. It is a friend that is reliable.
Spartan Echo 