Undergrads are stressed to the max

The college years are fun, but they certainly can be stressful. Some kids are away from home for the first time, others are struggling to support themselves. Students are trying to juggle class loads, part-time jobs, and an often a very busy social scene.

Though most college students can handle the stress that they feel, in a recent survey, 1 in 5 undergraduates reported feeling stressed out all the time. Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, poor school performance, and health problems. Alarmingly, one in ten students reported thinking about suicide.

Students reported that the things that caused them stress included:

• school work
• grades
• finances
• relationships/dating
• family problems
• extracurricular activities

The good news is that more than half of the students surveyed reported feeling hopeful and that they had a good support system. Half said they would turn to professional help if they needed it and 15% have already done so. Even so, it's clear that even though college students are out of the nest, they still need plenty of support.