By Amenah Charani
Birds chirp, flowers bloom, sneezing becomes uncontrollable, spring is here. While spring has many lovely qualities, for some, it causes the spiral into dark emotions that can become hard to control.
Recently, the spring semester has brought along with it a rising number of campus suicides.
Thomas Wagoner, an Arizona State University junior, committed suicide on the first day of the spring semester. Though struggling with depression, family and friends saw no signs, and had assumed if Wagoner needed anything he would come to them.
This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common among college campuses. According to Emory University, there are more than 1000 college campus suicides every year, one in 10 students have made plans for suicide, and about 18.8 million American’s suffer from depression.
An article from the Mayo Clinic suggests that having a positive mindset helps process highly stressful situations, such as the stress that comes from school and personal lives, in ways that will be beneficial to a person.
“Positive thinking doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant situations,” the Mayo Clinic article says. “Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.”
During college, along with being in school, many people work and even raise families. As a Healthline article points out, college is usually the first outlet where many now have the chance to make their own big life decisions. This new freedom, along with the pressure to succeed, can be too much for those who aren’t prepared for it.
However, according to the book “Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries to the Creative Mind,” the adversity we are faced with can truly strengthen our minds.
“It’s important to note that sadness, grief, anger and anxiety of course, are common responses to trauma, and growth generally occurs alongside these challenging emotions –not in place of them,” the excerpt says.
Kirstin Dross, a professor of Psychology at Tallahassee Community College, and a former Mental Health Counselor, stresses the idea that students should always keep in mind that the struggles they are facing will not last forever.
“Knowing constructive coping mechanisms, knowing how to deal with stress in a positive way and also not being afraid to reach out,” Dross brings forward are key factors for taking care of oneself during college careers.
At TCC, mental health services are free and confidential. Services include crisis intervention, assessment and counseling. To utilize these resources, call (850) 201-7726 or visit the Student Affairs office, SU 203.
