Student Wellness Among Za'ba Residents

University involves a lot of sudden changes in life. Starting life in a new city, making new friends and living independently for the first time can be challenging for any student. Combined with the high pressure of coursework and exams, these factors can be a recipe for stress, anxiety and other mental health problems.

It’s no surprise then that an increasing number of students are struggling with their mental health whilst at university. At least 1 in 4 students have experienced mental health difficulties while studying, with some research suggesting that this number could be as high as 8 in 10. The problem seems to be getting worse when the number of university students dropping out due to mental health problems has increased and university counselling services are increasingly struggling to cope with the demand for treatment.

The causes of mental health issues are varied, with underlying conditions often brought to the surface by the stress of university. Moving away from home to a strange new place, university level workloads and worries about money can all be factors that trigger anxiety and depression, the most common mental health problems experienced by students.

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” — Lalah Delia

The most commonly diagnosed problems among students are depression and anxiety.

Depression is a mood disorder that involves persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities. People experiencing depressive episodes may also experience mood swings, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, and headaches and body pains that have no apparent physical cause. Symptoms for depression differ from person to person. Ultimately, depression is a result of a chemical imbalance in our brains. The way one person displays signs of depression is not necessarily the way symptoms emerge in others.

Anxiety. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. However, mounting, ongoing feelings of worry, tension, and panic can interfere with daily life. When your daily life is disrupted, anxiety crosses the line to become a medical condition. Symptoms of anxiety disorders may sometimes be mistaken for everyday stress or simply written off as someone worrying too much. Depending on how your body responds to increased levels of certain chemicals, panic attacks may be mistaken as a physical ailment, such as a heart attack or a tension headache. Symptoms for anxiety disorders include feelings of stress, irritability, trouble concentrating, fearfulness, sweating and dizziness, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, muscle pain and tension, headaches and frequent upset stomach or diarrhea.

Our team has conducted interviews with a number of students from the seventh residential college, and we are here to report the findings. Three out of every four interviewees claim to have had a mental health problem in the past. They favoured professional aid, resting, eating, and playing games as treatment techniques. The final question asked was whether they ever felt low or depressed. Three out of four interviewees agreed with the question and said they would instantly isolate themselves from others.

“You can’t control everything. Sometimes you just need to relax and have faith that things will work out. Let go a little and just let life happen.” — Kody Keplinger

---

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. How to improve students' well-being?

One of the answers that caught my attention is by giving students choices. Giving students a choice allows them to take ownership of their learning as well as create a product that feels authentic to them. They work on something that they're good at creating, or try something they want to get better at. As a result, there will be less unnecessary stress for students because they will not be required to focus on something they dislike.

2. What do I do if I’m worried about my mental health?

The most important thing is to talk to someone that you trust. This might be a friend, colleague or family member. In addition to talking to someone, you might find it helpful to learn more about what you're going through. These things may help to get some perspective on what you are experiencing, and be the start of getting help.

3. Where can I get help and support?

Getting help is the most important step in overcoming any form of mental health. Here are some contact info that can help

1. The Malaysian Mental Health Association

Psychological Therapy & Support Services Phone: +603 2780 6803 (Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm, except public holidays) Website: www.mmha.org.my 2. University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

Department of Psychological Medicine Phone: +603 79494422 Website: www.ummc.edu.my 3. Non-governmental organization

Befrienders Phone: +603 76272929 Website: www.befrienders.org.my

4. Klinik Kesihatan or Family Medicine Specialist Clinic

5. Any university’s hospitals

6. Private clinic or hospital

We would like to express our gratitude to Za'ba Residential College for partnering with us to make this event a success.

---