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College Students Promote Mental Health Awareness During National Stress Øut Day
SILVER SPRING, Md. (April 6, 2009) — Next week college students will participate in National Stress Øut Day, a nationwide effort to provide pre-finals stress relief and educate students about the difference between everyday anxiety and an anxiety disorder or other mental illness. The event is sponsored by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and Active Minds, with support from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems on college campuses. Forty million U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and 75 percent of them experience their first episode of anxiety by age 22.
National Stress Øut Day reminds students to take care of their mental health, an important reminder in light of a 2008 survey that found 80 percent of college students say they frequently or sometimes experience daily stress. The Associated Press and mtvU survey also found that 34 percent of students have felt depressed at some point in the past three months, 13 percent have been diagnosed with a mental health condition such as an anxiety disorder or depression, and 9 percent have seriously considered suicide in the past year.
National Stress Øut Day will be held during the week of April 13-17; each participating campus can choose a specific day. Students will engage in activities aimed to relieve pre-finals stress while reducing the stigma around mental health disorders which can prevent students from seeking treatment. See www.stressoutday.org for more details.
Colleges participating in National Stress Øut Day
Art Institute of California, Los Angeles |
New York University |
Brown University |
Northern Illinois University |
Bucknell University |
Ohio State University |
Cabrini College
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Ohio State University at Newark/Central Ohio Technical College |
California State University, Chico |
Olivet College |
California State University, Long Beach |
Oregon State University |
Central Michigan University |
Our Lady of the Lake University |
Chapman University |
Rollins College |
Chemeketa Community College |
Stetson University |
Cleveland State University |
Stevenson University |
College of New Jersey |
Texas State University |
College of St. Catherine |
Towson University |
Cornell College |
Trent University |
Dartmouth College |
University of Arkansas |
Denison University |
University of Baltimore |
Earlham College |
University of California, Berkeley |
Elms College |
University of California, Los Angeles |
Florida Institute of Technology |
University of California, Santa Barbara |
Frostburg State University |
University of Connecticut |
Georgia State University |
University of Maryland |
Grand Valley State University |
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth |
Grinnell College |
University of Memphis |
Gulf Coast Community College |
University of Missouri |
Immaculata University |
University of Montana |
Indiana University |
University of Nebraska, Kearney |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro |
Ithaca College |
University of North Florida |
Johns Hopkins University |
University of Richmond |
Juniata College |
University of Rochester |
Lake Forest College |
University of Southern California |
Luther College |
University of St. Thomas |
Macalester College |
University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
Marquette University |
University of Wyoming |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Ursinus College |
McDaniel College |
West Chester University |
Mercyhurst College |
Western Illinois University |
Misericordia University |
Williams College |
Moravian College |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute |
Muhlenberg College |
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About the Anxiety Disorders Association of America
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness and improving the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of anxiety disorders through education and research. ADAA offers free educational information and resources about anxiety disorders, local treatment providers, self-help groups, self-tests, clinical trials, and more. ADAA promotes the message that anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable.
About Active Minds
Active Minds, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Washington, D.C., with affiliated chapters on over 180 college campuses nationwide. Each student-run chapter works on campus to promote an educated dialogue about issues of mental health, symptoms of mental illness, and available resources for seeking help. The organization has been featured in national media such as CNN, The Washington Post, Chronicle of Higher Education, and Psychiatric News; and has been recognized by national organizations for its innovative and dedicated programming aimed at addressing the stigma that surrounds mental illness among college students. Alison Malmon started the organization after her older brother, a student at Columbia University, died by suicide in 2000.
About NSPL
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free telephone helpline available to anyone in emotional distress and/or suicidal crisis. If you need help, please dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With over 120 certified crisis centers across the country, our mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. When you call, a trained telephone worker will listen to your concern, assess its nature and severity, and provide brief support, community resource referrals or crisis service linkages, as needed. Your call is free and confidential.
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