To Honor Mental Health Awareness Month, BestColleges.com Releases New Online Resources for Students

May 31, 2017 (Seattle WA) – BestColleges.com, a leading provider of higher education information and resources, today announced new online information guides focused on Mental Health Resources for students enrolled in higher education coursework and institutions. This announcement follows BestColleges.com recent release of its new rankings focused on degree opportunities in the Social Services.

“In our increasingly fast-paced and complex world, it’s crucial that high-quality information is available so we can all make good decisions. And access to mental health resources is crucial – especially for students entering the exciting yet unfamiliar world of higher education,” said Stephanie Snider, General Manager for BestColleges.com.

The online resource guides cover topics like:

The guide helps to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues for college students and where and when to seek help. Research conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness on mental health on college campuses shows that:

Students are exposed to a barrage of stressors during the college experience, from growing pains associated with adjusting to college to everyday factors like social pressures and work responsibilities. A 2016 poll conducted by the American College Health Association found that 34.4% of college students reported that stress had negatively impacted their academic performance over the past 12 months. Stress was the single most common inhibitor on academic performance reported by students, followed by depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. This guide highlights, the signs of stress and covers tools, techniques, and resources available to students.

Death by suicide is a serious public health issue that has increased by 24% over the last 15 years in the U.S., with more than 42,000 people dying from suicide each year. Statistics show that suicide rates have risen across all age groups and genders during this period, though even with a 200% increase in the suicide rate of females age 10-14, the suicide rate of men remains almost four times higher than that of women. Public health experts suggest that the key to lowering the suicide rate is prevention, including educating the public about recognizing suicidal behavior and improving support resources for those who are at risk.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an eating disorder is defined as any “persistent eating behavior” that negatively affects one’s physical or emotional health. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) estimates that 20 million women and 10 million men in the U.S. will experience a clinically significant eating disorder during their lifetime. Today’s mental health professionals emphasize the need to dispel myths and stereotypes about the underlying causes of eating disorders in order to combat the stigma-afflicted individuals must endure.

“Given that eating disorders are serious illnesses, and college students are at increased risk, it is important for students, faculty, and staff to be educated so that everyone can receive the treatment they deserve,” said Chelsea Kronengold, MA, Senior Program Associate at the National Eating Disorder Association.

BestColleges.com helps prospective students find the school that best meets their needs through proprietary research, user-friendly guides, and hundreds of unique college rankings. They also provide a wide array of college planning, financial aid, and career resources to help all students get the most from their education and prepare them for the world after college.