What the research says about coping in college:

  • If you’re falling behind in class, get help. Don’t deny it if you’re struggling. Most students who fail have put off getting help. Try the opposite strategy: Meet the people who can help now, so you’ll be more likely to call them if problems arise. Go to your academic adviser and ask about free campus tutoring programs, peer advisers and supplemental instruction. Most campuses also have special math labs and writing centers. Ask your professors for help. They will respect your honesty. In rare cases, you may even be advised to drop a course. That’s okay, too. You can always take it again when you’re more prepared.
  • Feeling down? You’re at an age when the first signs of this common — and curable — condition appear. Things like academic, parental and financial pressure are responsible for the nearly 1-in-10 college students seeking help at campus counseling centers. Signs of depression include:

                    • A change of appetite

                    • Significant weight loss

                    • A change in sleeping patterns

                    • Less interest in favorite activities

                    • Fatigue

                    • Feeling hopeless or sad

                    • Lack of focus

                    • Headaches or stomachaches

  • Get immediate help if you have thoughts of suicide. Call 1-800-SUICIDE. If you     experience these symptoms, tell your parents and get help at the campus counseling center.
  • Resist dangerous distractions. In college, temptations come free of parental oversight: drinking, gambling, drugs, partying all weekend. About 1-in-4 college students suffer the consequences of drinking, including missing classes, falling behind, flunking exams or worse. Over 1,400 college students between 18 and 24 die every year from alcohol-related injuries. Sexual abuse, assault, unsafe sex, health problems and even suicide also are linked to alcohol.
  • Many students also become problem gamblers. Glamorous casinos, TV poker tournaments and online gambling don’t help. Consider the fact that college dropout rates are higher in institutions located near casinos. These vices can sink your college career. And many of those campus parties encourage these behaviors. Avoid them. Find safer ways to have fun and people who feel the same way.
  • Take a break now and then. You’re under a lot of pressure. The pressure won’t stop until you graduate. So when you’re feeling down — not depressed, just down — give yourself a breather. A long walk, a cup of coffee at the local cafe diner, a long talk with a friend who always listens, exercise, a long entry in your personal journal — simple breaks like this can relieve the pressure. Taking breaks during studying every hour or two also helps sharpen your wits and renew your energy.
  • Most of all, if you need help, call your parents or your campus counseling center or a help line. Here are a few:

                    • Emergency: 911

                    • Suicide:

                        • 1-800-SUICIDE

                        • 1-800-273-TALK

                    • Alcohol abuse:

                        • 1-800-527-5344

                        • American Coucil on Alcohol Abuse

                    • Gambling addiction:

                        • 1-313-792-2877

                         • Gamblers Anonymous