Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome, friends, to
the Telewellness Hub podcast,
where listening is not just asimple act, passive act, it's an
act of self-care.
And at the Telewellness Hubpodcast we connect you with
resources and insights tosupport your mental, emotional
and physical well-being, fromleading experts who you can find
on our directory,telewellnesshubcom, but you can
(00:23):
also hear from people'sauthentic wellness journeys.
I'm your host, marta Hamilton,a licensed professional
counselor, and today I wanted todive into a topic that's very
near and dear to my heart,that's been on the minds of many
students and families this timeof year going away to college
or starting college, or startinga new year of college, for that
(00:46):
matter.
We'll be discussing theimportance of mental health
during this transition andoffering some hope and practical
advice to help you or yourloved ones navigate this
significant life change.
You know I I've been seeing alot of commotion going back to
college shopping.
(01:07):
I've been seeing a lot ofcommotion going back to college
shopping, conversations withpeople excited about where
they're going and to representtheir schools or to start a new
academic career.
And it's an exciting time newexperiences, new friends, a
whole new level of independence.
And while that is so exciting,it can also be overwhelming.
As adults, we learn that a lotof the most exciting transitions
(01:31):
and experiences can come withquite a bit of feelings of
overwhelm.
Some of the top most stressfullife events are those that are
considered positive and exciting, things like getting married,
having a baby, a job, promotion,and this is no different, and
for many of these people who areentering in this is their 18
(01:54):
years old.
Some people are 17, maybe 19.
They're entering into adulthoodand the pressures of academic
performance, making new socialconnections while adjusting to a
completely differentenvironment, as well as
responsibilities, can reallytake a toll on a student's
(02:16):
mental health, and this episodeis not intended to scare anyone
or make anyone worried.
I hope to do quite the oppositeto instill some hope.
Anyone worried.
I hope to do quite the oppositeto instill some hope.
And this is actually, if I'mbeing totally transparent, has
(02:36):
been a big shift of mine withTelewellness Hub of in terms of
reaching out to universities,college campuses and creating a
platform throughtelewellnesshubcom, through our
podcast, through our YouTubevideos, through the way that we
empower people to find the rightprovider and engage and
interact with their social mediaand their resources and their
(02:57):
courses and instantly connect toschedule an appointment or
message them.
I want to change how we scrollwhen it comes to mental health
and wellness.
I want to take all oftechnology and all of its facets
and in our captivatingengagement with it, and all the
(03:19):
content that exists out there,and put it in one digital hub,
precisely because I would loveto make mental health and
wellness something that peoplewant to scroll through, and
especially with a youngercollege age population, because
the statistics are eye-opening.
(03:40):
I'm going to pull up my statshere.
According to the AmericanCollege Health Association,
nearly 60% of college studentsreported feeling overwhelming
anxiety in the past year andover 40% said they felt so
depressed that it was difficultto function.
(04:02):
And these numbers truly, whenyou think about it, six out of
10 college students reportedfeeling overwhelming anxiety in
the past year.
Four out of 10 said they feltso depressed it was difficult to
function.
This isn't something that youhear talked about at the end of
high school graduation.
It's not something you see whenpeople are posting their
pictures of them in theircollege gear.
(04:25):
It's really shocking and Ithink we do a really good job at
preparing housing and we haveto think about finances and
preparing for our future careersand preparing for graduation,
and I think this is an elementthat I think we should really
(04:45):
focus on, at least for me, Ifeel really compelled to to look
at how can we close this mentalhealth gap, not just
tele-wellness hub, but us as asociety.
And I I hope, if you'relistening and you know somebody
who's headed off to college, oryou know someone whose parents
are getting ready to sendsomeone off to college or who
are in college right, becausethese statistics are people who
(05:06):
are already in college that thisepisode will be a light for you
.
So mental health challenges cansignificantly impact academic
performance.
Studies have shown thatstudents with depression are
twice as likely to drop out ofcollege compared to their peers,
and anxiety can lead todifficulties in concentration,
(05:26):
test taking, test anxiety,completing assignments, and this
all ultimately affects thewhole point right Grades,
academic progress towards adiploma, towards a career.
And in fact, a survey by theHealthy Minds Network found that
students with mental healthissues are more likely to
experience academic impairment,with 20% reporting that their
(05:49):
symptoms have led to dropping acourse, withdrawing from classes
or receiving a lower grade.
So something to look out for Ifyou notice someone's showing
like significant academicstruggles compared to how they
maybe were performed in the past, or they're talking about
withdrawing or having to drop acourse.
So I think we could get focusedon like, hey, what do you need
(06:12):
to do?
Do you need to get a tutor?
Do you need to buckle up, turnin those assignments?
Those are all valuable things,right, if you don't want to
receive a lower grade orwithdraw, but I think it could
also point to, as a friend, as aparent, as a loved one,
checking with that person andsaying like, hey, how are you
feeling?
Like, how's your stress level,what's going on in your world?
And I think that is a reallyimportant thing to consider as
(06:39):
well.
Another critical issue thatintersects with mental health is
substance abuse.
So the National Institute onDrug Abuse reported that
approximately one in threecollege students has engaged in
binge drinking in the past monthor this was done at the end of
the year.
Drinking in the past month orthis was done at the end of the
year, and nearly one in four hasused marijuana.
And these behaviors are oftenlinked to stress, anxiety and
(07:01):
depression, particularly ifthey're ways that students turn
to cope with issues in theirlife.
If they're using substances asa way to cope and self-medicate,
it could lead to biggerstruggles, and the reality is
that substance abuse often makesmental health issues worse.
So it might be like a temporaryBand-Aid, but it's just going
(07:24):
to end up.
Like you know, it's kind oflike putting the pressure on
that hose It'll just explodeafter, typically, and so this
leads to a vicious cycle.
So because the anxiety, forexample, gets greater after,
then there's more attempts toself-medicate with substances
and it's really hard to breakthis cycle.
(07:46):
If you haven't listened in yeton an episode, I recommend you
scroll back wherever you'relistening or look on YouTube and
check out my episode with MariGarman.
She is a DBT counselor, a coachand works in recovery, and she
has great insight as she sharedher personal experience with her
(08:09):
son in this and also sharedjust kind of how it's
transformed their lives.
There is hope.
So I don't want to share thisas again as concern, but there
are tools and there are peopleand there is light.
So something to be aware of andit's important then to
recognize the signs early andhelp your loved one or, if it's,
(08:32):
you, seek help before thespirals, the behaviors spiral
out of control.
So now that we've talked aboutsome of the greatest challenges
academic struggles, mentalhealth on academic, the impact
of mental health on academicperformance, substance abuse in
college life are the two majorones that we see.
(08:55):
There's also a lot of isolation, right, and it comes with it,
but I want to talk.
Those are the greatestchallenges.
I want to talk about a shift tothe focus of hope.
The good news is that there areresources and strategies
available to help studentsmanage their mental health and
thrive in college.
(09:15):
So, first and foremost, it'simportant to know that you're
not alone.
You heard those statistics.
It's an overwhelmingly highnumber of people, right 60%
reported feeling overwhelminganxiety.
40% said they were so depressedit was difficult to function.
So if you're listening to thisand you know someone who's
struggling and they're acollege-age student, or if it's
(09:36):
you, the first thing to know isyou're not alone.
They're not alone.
This is a very common reactionto such a big life transition.
And if you're feelingoverwhelmed, if you're feeling
anxious, if you're feelingdepressed, reaching out for help
is a sign of strength, notweakness, and most colleges
(10:01):
offer counseling servicesthrough their campus so you can
reach out to the student healthclinic that's a great place to
start you could reach out to.
If you're in a sorority orfraternity Reach out to them.
If you're part of any studentgroups, reach out to them.
If you're living on campus,reach out to your RA and there's
(10:22):
also support groups from therethat they can refer you to
Different counselors on campusor off.
There are wellness programs aswell that are specifically
designed to help studentsnavigate these challenges and if
you're unsure where to startagain, your school's health
center, usually like the healthclinic, is a great first step.
Of course, telewellness Hub ishere.
(10:43):
My goal is to my ultimatemission in life is to have an
overwhelming amount of providersfor each state that you could
instantly whether it's at two inthe morning, three in the
morning chat with our wellnessmatch AI chat bot, tell them how
you're feeling, have themdirect you to the ideal provider
so you can start instantlychecking out their YouTube,
(11:05):
their TED talks, their books,scheduling an appointment with
them, whatever you might need.
Of course, we're not equippedto handle a crisis, but I will
make sure to.
That number is listed on ourwebsite and our chatbot and I'll
make sure to share that numberwith you now.
So the great thing is.
(11:25):
So, of course, we're notequipped to handle a crisis, we
do have the National Suicide andCrisis Lifeline number, listed
in our chatbot, thetele-wellness match, as well as
our homepage, but also foranyone listening.
You can always dial 988.
You can also text it now, whichis incredible 988.
(11:48):
It is available 24 hours.
It's also free.
You don't have to register.
You can reach out and reallyjust share your feelings if
you're struggling.
There doesn't have to be animminent, exact date and some
people say, well, I don't knowif this counts as a crisis, and
(12:12):
if you're struggling, if youfeel like you're struggling at
all, I encourage you to reachout to 988.
But building a social supportnetwork is crucial.
So connect with your family,connect with friends, join clubs
, find communities where you canbe yourself.
Now it's hard to do, but findcommunities where you can be
(12:33):
yourself, because having peopleto talk to and share experiences
with can make a world of adifference.
So now that we've talked alittle bit about what you can do
if you see the signs thatsomeone's struggling or if you
yourself are struggling, I wantto give some practical tips for
managing mental health incollege.
So, as you embark on this newchapter, or you're helping or
you know someone who's about toembark on this new chapter.
(12:55):
There's five things really I'mgoing to focus on.
One is establishing a routine,the other is practice
mindfulness.
The third is staying active.
The fourth is limitingsubstance use and the fifth is
reaching out to help, for helpor support.
So, when it comes toestablishing a routine,
consistency can bring a sense ofstability right.
You go off to college.
Everything is new, so creatingstructure for yourself and
(13:17):
creating stability throughconsistency will be really
helpful for your body.
So try to set regular times forsleep.
Sleep is crucial when it comesto mental health, particularly
depression and anxiety.
Try to set regular times formeals and have them be
nourishing, not all, just, youknow, 3 am pizza.
And then also try to setregular times for studying, and
(13:39):
this can help manage stress andkeep your body and mind in
balance.
Another practical tip ispracticing mindfulness.
Whether it's through meditation, deep breathing or simply
taking a moment to pause duringyour day and finding movement,
maybe on a walk, mindfulness canhelp reduce anxiety and improve
focus.
(13:59):
The third is staying active.
So physical activity is apowerful tool.
There's so much research inthis.
It's proven to help managestress and boost your mood.
Even a short walk or quickworkout can make a big
difference.
The fourth limiting substanceuse.
It's important to be mindful ofhow alcohol and drugs affect
(14:20):
your mood and behavior.
If not in that moment but later, and if you find yourself
relying on substances to cope ornot being able to stop leaning
towards substances too much,it's important to seek help.
Fifth, reaching out for support.
So, whether it's talking to acounselor, there are other great
(14:43):
platforms out there for findinga counselor calling a friend,
calling your student healthclinic or joining a support
group.
Don't hesitate to ask for helpwhen you need it.
Give someone the opportunity toshow up for you.
It could be the greatest gift.
I think a lot of people feellike man.
I don't want to be a burden,but it brings people joy.
(15:07):
It lets them step into theplace of them, getting to act
out as your friend, to act fullyas your loved one, your sibling
, your parent, your aunt, youruncle, your cousin.
It's giving someone else anopportunity.
It is not a burden.
So, when it comes to the biggerpicture, when I think about
(15:29):
long-term mental wellness,college is just one chapter in
your life and the habits andcoping mechanisms you develop
now will serve you in the yearsto come.
If you find yourself in a timethat you're struggling, know
that you're not alone.
You can approach the issueswith those practical tips
reaching out for help, and thetime will pass.
(15:52):
The struggle will pass.
With the right support, and byprioritizing your mental health,
you're setting yourself up forsuccess, not just academically,
but in all areas of your life.
So if you're listening todayand you're struggling, know that
it's okay to ask for help.
You're not alone in thisjourney and there are people and
resources ready to support you.
(16:14):
Remember, it's not about beingperfect.
It's about being resilient,taking care of yourself and
reaching out when you needsupport.
If you are someone who has aloved one taking off to college
soon, feel free to share thisepisode with them.
It may just be the words theyneed to hear, just as a gentle
reminder that they're not alone,that their mental health is a
(16:36):
priority and that this excitingnew chapter in their life is one
that is precious, that theirlives matter, and so do their
mental health and wellness.
So, as you head into this newchapter, I encourage you to
remember that it's not aboutbeing perfect.
(16:56):
It's about being resilient,taking care of yourself and
reaching out when you needsupport.
I encourage you to embrace theopportunities and the challenges
that come your way.
College is often described as atime of growth, exploration and
self-discovery, and by takingcare of your mental health,
you're giving yourself the bestchance to truly enjoy the
(17:17):
experience and succeed.
Thank you for joining me todayon the Telewellness Hub podcast.
Remember you are stronger thanyou think and help is always
within reach.
Stay connected, stay hopefuland take care of yourselves.
Until next time, I'm MartaHamilton, reminding you that
your mental health and wellnessmatters, and if you found
(17:37):
today's episode helpful, pleaseshare it with someone who might
benefit from it.
Don't forget to subscribe tothe Telewellness Hub podcast for
more weekly episodes thatempower you to take charge of
your wellbeing.
Thanks for listening.