The conversations surrounding the betterment of mental health and the issues surrounding the subject are never easy to describe.
That’s because mental health is not a monolith.
We want to start the issue by breaking down the distinction between mental health and mental illness.
Mental health is the state of our emotional, psychological and social well-being.
Mental illness is the general condition of a variety of diagnoses a person can have, these are conditions of changes in behavior, thinking, emotion or a combination of these factors.
All of our respective experiences are different.
Even if we experience the same symptoms or have the same diagnoses, we all walk through and navigate the world differently, therefore, our experiences can never truly be the same.
In a post-pandemic era where the world has drastically changed, the topic of mental health is of utmost importance.
In a time of heightened awareness surrounding mental health issues, statistics show that college students’ mental health has worsened while they’re in college.
In 2022, 35% of college students were diagnosed with anxiety disorder, and 27% of students were diagnosed with depression, according to a study from the American College Health Association.
On top of that, 77% of college students experienced moderate to serious psychological stress, according to the same study.
These statistics don’t even include students who deal with personality or mood disorders, such as borderline and bipolar disorders, where stigmas are high against people who have been diagnosed.
It’s safe to affirm that the conversation surrounding the mental health spectrum has a long way to go.
Within representation of marginalized communities, the portrayal of mental health and issues in the media, we hope the stories we share here can help to create and move the conversation forward in our own community.
We focus on the factors that can cause mental illnesses, including anxiety and stress.
We analyze how they can cause further complications, and how outside factors, such as financial means and systemic issues, can worsen a person’s well-being.
We hope to expand people’s minds on their perception of how mental health is seen, and we hope to connect to our community in sharing experiences of our own personal journeys surrounding the betterment of our mental health.
As student journalists, we see, experience and feel the weight of having to maintain a school and social life under the microscope of high expectations.
While also dealing with finding ourselves and growing into the people that will carry us through the trials and tribulations of the world.
As we cover the San Jose State community, we see how systemic factors affect the people we speak to and write about.
We focus on the individuals, groups and experiences of the SJSU community as it pertains to their own respective mental health and the effects that surround it.
Covering issues our community face gives us a new perspective on our personal experiences, while allowing us to reflect on the problems of the world.
May 1 will be the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month and we hope to preface it the best way possible, by highlighting the importance of mental health awareness for our community.
