Spring break was amazing. I got to relax, catch up on sleep, travel around, catch up with friends and so much more. I put school almost entirely out of my mind for a brief little while.

And then I came back. And then I sat down in class. And then I remembered everything I had put off.

Instantly my brain was in overdrive, my heart was racing and I was panicking about how much work I had to get done in such a short amount of time.

Given that we are in a stressful time of year, Mental Health Awareness Week on campus couldn’t have come at a better time.

Mental health is a serious concern in our society, and as college students we are under such high levels of stress and pressure it is important to know what resources are available to help.

We’ve all been there, and it’s okay to admit it. Actually, it’s more than okay to admit it.

School is hard, and sometimes you can feel very overwhelmed. Maybe you think you are the only one feeling this way, though I guarantee you’re not. It’s difficult to know what to do when you are overcome by stress and anxiety.

You also may have no clue what you should be doing when you feel like this.

This week, the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) is offering opportunities to attend events on mental well-being and dealing with stress.  The mental health subcommittee will be handing out stress packs on the Quad at the end of this week, and the committee’s social media will be full of suggested study music, inspiring thoughts and tips to help manage your stress.

Our friends are by our sides every step of this collegiate journey, and it is so beneficial to have people you know you can turn to if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you don’t have those people, there are resources available if you need someone to talk to.

Every week, McKinley, the University Counseling Center or even DRES are available for students to speak to individuals trained to work on the topic of mental health. There is also online training, like Kognito At-Risk, to help train students in recognizing the symptoms of at-risk peers and directing them to needed services.

Even if it does not yet feel like it, the academic year is starting to wrap up.  Unfortunately, final projects and exams will be upon us all soon.

It’s important now to find what will work for you in keeping on top of studying while also staying level-headed and able to enjoy all the other non-academic aspects of college.

Maybe you have a system in place of reworking your schedule to find time for the library, setting aside clear time to hang out and relax with friends and occasionally buying your favorite snack as a reward. Regardless of how you balance your time, everyone should be looking out for their well-being.

Mental Health Awareness Week may be this week, but it should really be every week.  You know your friends and classmates; look out for each other and support each other.  This is not a topic anyone should feel they must remain quiet about. By bringing attention to the seriousness of this matter and by helping all those around us obtain what they need to move forward in a healthy way, we can all benefit immensely.

Hayley is a sophomore in ACES.

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