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Mental Health in College Students - Anxiety

Prof. Cayce Wicks

ENC 1102

Part I. What is the problem?

According to a study from the American College Health Association, one out of six students has been treated or diagnosed with anxiety. Studies have shown the link between mental health and academic success. According to a survey, 50% of students receiving counseling mentioned that this was a big reason for them to remain in school (Hoffman, 2015). The years when a student is in college present a challenging period whereby these students have to grow their abilities and become more mature, that is it is a phase where their adulthood is developed and the transition through this (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Consequently, this transition period is very challenging for them and in some of the cases can cause bigger problems if it is not examined and treated in its early stages. Anxiety can kill the desires to be integrated socially in college students as well as to develop their career objectives and dreams fully as they would wish to (Novotney, 2014). Brown states that a survey from the National College Health Assessment found that 21.9 percent of students mentioned that within the last year, anxiety was a cause of their low academic performance, meaning receiving a lower grade on an exam or project, receiving an incomplete, or dropping a class (Brown, 2016). Overall, mental health disorders must be treated from the beginning of the first year of each college student forcing them to a regular evaluation at least twice during the semester. Another way is, monitoring those students who are falling and dropping courses to understand what is affecting their academic performance.

Part II. How will you approach the op-ed?

For this op-ed, it would be wise to use the solution approach to the problem of mental health in college students – anxiety, which has been on the verge of increasing recently. To start with, college students need to be informed of this disorder that has been causing problems for them and make them understand why it is a concern to be dealt. Also, they need to understand the related effects on the victim that is suffering from it. In some cases even just one test can cause anxiety. In my case, the moment a professor is passing out a test is extremely stressful and causes so much anxiety that I practically forget most of the material in an instant. Consequently, failing the test because my mind is blocked. I will detail some of the research that has been conducted. People need to be informed that never is too late to seek medical attention if they have been affected or if not, they seek a counseling session to be walked through it in full detail. Additionally, I will talk about the benefits of taking informational sessions before and after they have dealt with anxiety. The best means to understand why this is a problem and the only solution will be through counseling sessions and a medical check-up at least twice every half year.

Part III: How will you appeal to your audience?

My audience will be students who are affected by a mental health problem, mainly anxiety. To make my op-ed more reliable and effective, I will use my knowledge in the rhetorical appeals. I will effectively appeal to pathos when students participate from counseling sessions, with their feelings before and after a session. For logos, the plan is to use past research and statistics that will reveal the real numbers of students who have been affected by mental problems in college and kept quiet as a result. Lastly, with the use of the research already mentioned, and psychology experts’ credibility, I will appeal to ethos. This information will prove to be fruitful because it will expose the bare truth that college students are affected by the mental health problem of anxiety, which will be directed at provoking my audience and cause them to take action.

Part IV: What are some opposing views to your position?

Some people could argue that some students just need to work on managing their emotions or strengthening their emotional intelligence rather than possibly be suffering from anxiety as a mental health issue. According to Kumaran and Javid, when a study was made about the relationship between high stake testing, anxiety, and stress in students the following assertions were made: “emotional intelligence is considered as a strength of students which enhance their academic performance” (Kumaran and Javid, 2016).

Similarly, other people could argue that universities are already offering enough resources for student’s mental health education and investing in centers to handle cases of students suffering from this issue. According to Hoffman, “Like many college counseling centers, U.C.F. has designed a variety of daily workshops and therapy groups that implicitly and explicitly address anxiety, depression and their triggers” (Hoffman, 2015).

I will support my claims by using my credible sources, to prove that research shows that for many students anxiety is one of the main factors of students academic underperformance which in turn deters graduation date continuously, many times regardless of student’s emotional disposition or character qualities.

Part V: Conclusion.

Anxiety in college students, as a mental health issue, might be underestimated by some people as a factor of academic failure or success. This type of mentality promotes cookie cutter one size fits all environments that create even more anxiety among students. Through my op-ed, I will show that anxiety in some college students is very much present and is a deciding factor in academics. Thus advisors should work toward not only addressing academic issues but also addressing mental health issues by always having in place periodic assessments that could help refer students to mental health counselors. Academic advisors should work hand in hand with mental health counselors to determine a plan of action for cases where students are suffering from anxiety.

In an effective solution could be compulsory mental health examinations and counseling sessions twice every six months so that their mental status is known. This examinations and counseling sessions will be a way that the op-ed will prove it will work through the formation of a plan that will see them strengthen their emotions.

Works Cited:

Hoffman, Jan. "Anxious Students Strain College Mental Health Centers." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 May 2015. Web. 16 May 2017. <https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/27/anxious-students-strain-college-mental-health-centers/?_r=0>.

Hunt, Justin, and Daniel Eisenberg. "Mental Health Problems and Help-Seeking Behavior Among College Students." Journal of Adolescent Health 46.1 (2010): 3-10. Web. 28 May 2017.

Novotney, Amy. "Students under Pressure." Monitor on Psychology. American Psychological Association, Sept. 2014. Web. 28 May 2017. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/09/cover-pressure.aspx>.

Brown, Joel. "Anxiety: The Most Common Mental Health Diagnosis in College Students | BU Today | Boston University." BU Today. BU Today, 02 Oct. 2016. Web. 16 May 2017. <http://www.bu.edu/today/2016/college-students-anxiety-and-depression/>.

Kumaran J, Senthil, and Amreena Javid. "Emotional Intelligence, Test Anxiety." Indian Journal of Psychological Science 6.2 (2016): 159-67. Research Gate. Research Gate, 18 Dec. 2016. Web. 29 May 2017.