Stereotypes Of Today's College Students

It is often said, “college is the best four years of your life” or “life only becomes more difficult after college.” Due to this, many people believe in the stereotype that media portrays of college being a wondrous time of new experiences and great freedom to explore new ideas and find one’s true self. Although this stereotype may be partially true, it does not give an accurate depiction of what college is truly like for majority of students. College students face challenges, pressures, and anxieties throughout their four years that can cause them to feel extremely overwhelmed. Students are forced to find an equal balance of their academics, social life, personal well-being, and mental health needs. Many students also have the pressure to do well in college, whether it is from family, friends, or fear of not getting a job after they get their degree.

Despite the complexity of mental illnesses, the overall picture is clear. Today’s college students are facing a serious mental health crisis. The amount of external pressures placed on students nowadays is significantly higher than it has been in the past. Despite the fact students are constantly put under pressure and overwhelmed, they are expected to handle everything without developing a mental illness. Once a student seeks help though, they are automatically stigmatized as someone with a mental illness and viewed differently in the societies eyes. People who live with mental illness are usually blamed for their condition or told it is just “a phase.” Stigma causes for people who live with the illness to feel ashamed about something that is out of their control. Mental illness is a disorder that one cannot control, therefore adding the burden of stigma is unacceptable. Despite the fact that stigma has reduced in recent years, it has not reduced enough. Something must be done to stand up and prevent stigma against mental