This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rice chapter.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 75% of all mental health conditions arise before the age of 24, making college students especially vulnerable to mental ill-health. Unfortunately, lingering stigmas prevent many from seeking the help they need, meaning all too often, those struggling with mental illness suffer in silence. In recognition of the efforts made by NAMI to educate the public and fight stigma, Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week in 1990. Rice’s own mental health advocacy group—the Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness (RAMHA)—devoted this past week to fostering stigma-free discussions of mental health on campus. However, since the symptoms of mental illness cannot be confined to a single week of the year, RAMHA has compiled the following information on anxiety and depression. While the below resources should not be treated as a substitute for professional help, they do serve as a good starting point for those who think they might be suffering from a mental health condition.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is characterized by feelings of worry or fear and can occur without the presence of an anxiety disorder. In fact, anxiety is a very common feeling that’s often present in situations such as stressing about a test or being nervous about a sports game. An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, occurs when those feelings of worry intensify and interfere with daily functioning. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting ~18% of the population, ~30% of which are between the ages of 18-32. It’s important to remember that while anxiety disorders are relatively common, they exist on a spectrum; everyone’s experience is slightly different.

Various specialized cases of anxiety disorders include but are not limited to:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: characterized by excessive worrying about everyday things (~3%)
Panic Disorder: characterized by spontaneous panic attacks (~3%)
Social Anxiety Disorder: characterized by extreme fear of judgment from others in a social context, *notably different than shyness* (~7%)
Specific Phobias: characterized by debilitating irrational fears, *notably different than everyday fears* (~9%)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: characterized by intrusive thoughts that often lead to ritualistic behavior (~1%)
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: characterized by debilitating reactions after a specific trauma (~3.5%)

Check out these links and articles for more information about anxiety and anxiety disorders. Remember that you are never alone! <3 #EveryBrainIsBeautiful

DEPRESSION

Depression is characterized by extreme feelings of sadness, loneliness, or dejection and can manifest itself in many different ways. Being diagnosed with a depression disorder is very different than the normal feelings of sadness everyone experiences throughout life. With a depression disorder, these feelings of sadness often lead to feelings of worthlessness and beyond, interfering with an individual’s daily functioning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1 of every 20 Americans suffers currently from depression, whether moderate or severe in nature. Depression often manifests through symptomatic behaviors like irritability, changes in appetite, changes in sleep patterns, lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities, and/or suicidal thoughts, and statistically affects women more often than men. Depression also often coexists with other illnesses like eating disorders, substance abuse, diabetes, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and many more. It’s important to remember that while depression is one of the more common mental illnesses, it exists on a spectrum; everyone’s experience is slightly different.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) and Healthline, various specialized cases of depression disorders include but are not limited to:

Major Depressive Disorder: characterized by at least 5 of the diagnostic symptoms, including overwhelming sadness and drastic loss of interest (~7%)
Seasonal Affective Disorder: characterized by symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder but only during a specific time of year, usually winter
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: characterized by severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that frequently disrupts daily functioning
Bipolar Disorder/Manic-Depressive Illness: characterized by severe cycles of depression and extreme highs (~3%)
Postpartum Depression: characterized by prolonged feelings of depression after giving birth, *notably different than “baby blues”* (10-15% women)
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): characterized by a sad mood that persists for most of the day for most days for at least 2 years, plus the presence of at least 2 of the diagnostic symptoms
Depressive Disorder due to Another Medical Condition: characterized by depressive characteristics caused by a preexisting medical condition, such as endocrine disorders or reproductive disorders
Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood: characterized by depressive characteristics triggered within 3 months of another stressor
Psychotic Depression: characterized by Major Depressive Disorder accompanied by hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc. (20% Major Depressive Disorder)

Check out these links and articles for more information about depression. Remember that you are never alone! <3 #EveryBrainIsBeautiful

“Coping with Depression”

https://www.helpguide.org/…/depr…/coping-with-depression.htm

“Tips for Coping with Depression”

http://www.nhs.uk/…/stre…/Pages/dealing-with-depression.aspx

“Depression | The Mighty”

https://themighty.com/depression/

“Depression: 7 Powerful Tips to Help You Overcome Bad Moods”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/…/depression-7-powerful-tip…

“25 Texts to Send a Loved One Living with Depression”

https://themighty.com/…/texts-to-send-someone-with-depress…/

“9 Things You Shouldn’t Say to Someone with Depression (and What to Say Instead)”

https://themighty.com/…/how-to-support-friend-with-depress…/

“22 ‘Red Flags’ That Might Mean You’re Slipping Back Into Depression”

https://themighty.com/2017/05/depression-red-flags/

“43 Small Things People With Depression Do Every Day to Feel Good”

https://www.buzzfeed.com/…/little-things-to-curb-depression…

“21 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Depressed”

https://www.buzzfeed.com/…/things-nobody-tells-you-about-be…

“27 Tumblr Posts You’ll Only Get If You Have Depression”

https://www.buzzfeed.com/annaborges/shut-up-brad…

For additional on-campus help, contact the Rice Wellbeing and Counseling Center at wellbeing@rice.edu or (713) 348-3311, and make sure to check out RAMHA’s Facebook page for ongoing opportunities to contribute to the mental health conversation here at Rice!

The Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness Celebrates Mental Illness Awareness Week

ANXIETY

“Tips to Manage Anxiety and Stress”

“Self Care for Anxiety”

“Anxiety | The Mighty”

“22 Unexpected Things that Relax People Who Live with Anxiety”

“19 ‘Red Flags’ That Might Mean It’s Time to Get Help for Your Anxiety”

“22 Therapist-Approved Tips Every Anxious Person Needs to Hear”

“16 Little Ways to Keep Anxiety from Ruining Your Life”

“21 Things People with Anxiety Want You to Know”

“55 Memes About Anxiety that Will Make You Say ‘Me'”