There is a point sometime at night when everything falls silent. The texts cease. The hostel next door, where everyone now seems so carefree, becomes quiet. And then, suddenly, the burden of it all begins to register. The paper you forgot to do. The fight with the friend. The class you are losing ground in. The future that looms so large and undefined. 

College has been referred to as the best time of your life. And sure enough, it can be thrilling, full of firsts and freedom and friends. But what no one really explains to you is this,  it can also be lonely, daunting and emotionally draining. 

College mental health is not something you’ll learn about in a seminar or read on a poster. It’s real. It’s there. And it needs a genuine discussion. 

So, what is it about college life that is so mentally tough, and what can you really do to change it? 

1. New place, new stress 

Stepping out of the security of school, home, and the people you know can rattle your sense of security. 

• You’re trying to fit in, determine where you belong 

• You might be living away from home for the first time 

• The course load is heavier, and the expectation is greater 

It’s okay to feel scared or homesick at first. You are not weak for struggling. You are human for adapting. 

2. The pressure to be fine all the time 

All the people around you appear to be doing just fine. They are attending classes, smiling with friends, taking selfies, taking part in clubs. 

• You feel you are the sole one who is not doing well 

• But what you get to see is not everything 

A majority of students are silently carrying something along with them. Stress. Doubt about themselves. Fear of failing. Sharing it with someone shatters the illusion and provides relief. 

3. Unhealthy coping is normalized 

To cope with the stress, students get into the habit of what appears to be pleasure but conceals underlying problems. 

• Late night cramming 

• Missing meals 

• Skipping class 

• Scrolling for hours to dull the brain 

These are natural habits, but they cost. Step one is to become aware of them. Step two is to check what you actually need. 

4. It feels difficult to ask for help 

Perhaps you are scared of being judged. Perhaps you don’t want to trouble your family. Perhaps you feel your issues are too small. 

But here is the real deal 

• You don’t have to be breaking down in order to deserve help 

• Hanging out with a counsellor, mentor or buddy can turn everything around 

Colleges are gradually enhancing access to mental health care. Use them. It is not a failure sign. It is a show of strength. 

5. Healing is in small steps 

Mental health does not get better overnight. It requires treatment like physical health. 

• Establish a routine 

• Keep in touch with people who leave you feeling safe 

• Exercise your body 

• Eat, sleep, and rest 

• Talk nicely to yourself 

So, mental health in college – let’s talk about it? 

Yes, let’s. Because to ignore it only feeds the storm. But to look at it, to speak about it, to share it — that is how the light begins to return. 

College is not only about getting by on exams. It is about learning to tend to your entire self. Mind included.