College is full of challenges, providing exciting and at times nerve-racking experiences.

The transition from school to college and being away from home for the first time, relationships, financial matters and living situations can increase stress levels.

Learning to cope with these challenges is the key to protecting your health, mentally and emotionally. Being overwhelmed, or feeling unable to cope can cause depression which may require help.

Support and held is available through:

• Student Health Centre
• Student Counselling Service

There is no charge for full-time students. Confidentially is assured at all times.

SOME COMMON PROBLEMS

Depression is not uncommon amongst students at college.

• Male students are less likely to seek help and more likely to try to sort it out alone, take drugs, get drunk or do nothing.
• 1 st and 2 nd year students are more likely to try and ignore or do nothing about feeling depressed.

SYMPTOMS

• Loss of interest in life
• Feeling unhappy most of the time
• Unable to cope
• Feeling anxious, guilty, irritable
• Avoiding other people
• No self confidence
• Negative thoughts/thoughts of suicide or death

Resources: www.aware.ie

EXAM STRESS

Increased pressure and feeling overwhelmed by assignment deadlines and exams. Stress can have serious negative consequences for your physical and mental well-being.

Help and support is available by contacting:

• Student Health Centre
• Student Counselling Services – self referral phone 01 7005165

SOME TIPS

• Exercise regularly
• Learn to say “no”
• Prioritise
• Talk, rant, rave – open up to someone

BULLYING

Bulling can be experienced at any stage of life resulting in trauma and harm to well being. It is behaviour considered offensive to a reasonable person, undermining an individual's right to dignity in the workplace or education. It can be verbal or physical, direct or indirect.

This could be:

• Verbal abuse
• Unwanted physical contact
• Gestures, ridicule, persistent unjustified sarcasm
• Sneering
• Jokes, graffiti
• Impossible deadlines, continuous refusal of reasonable requests without good reason
• Aggression

Bullying is illegal and must be exposed and a stop put to it. Do not accept any of the above and contact your tutor, Student Health Centre or student representative regarding any concerns.

HARASSMENT

• Racial Harassment – Abusive treatment of people based on race, colour, ethnicity.
• Disability Harassment – Making a person feel uncomfortable, embarrassed or threatened because of a disability they may have.
• Sexual Harassment – Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. Any unwanted, offensive, humiliating or intimidating action against another is not to be tolerated and again must be addressed appropriately.

Mental Health is the balance between all aspects of life - social, physical, spiritual and emotional. It impacts on how we manage our surroundings and make choices in our lives - clearly it is an integral part of our overall health.

Mental Health is far more than the absence of mental illness and has to do with many aspects of our lives including:

• How we feel about ourselves
• How we feel about others
• How we are able to meet the demands of life