Skip to main content
Special Projects Assistant

Members of Hi Five
Horowitz says that your perception of a situation is what triggers you to feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. You can manage these feelings by questioning your perception and looking at the situation differently.

As human beings, we will all have a time in our life when our mental health is not at its best. Our mental health can be affected by a life event or brain chemistry that causes our brain to be strained and suffer from mental illness. According to Erika Horwitz, the Associate Director of Health and Counseling here at SFU, 1 in 5 Canadians struggle with mental health. The most common forms seen in university students are stress, anxiety, and depression. Although quite common, many people who do have a mental illness internalize this problem and do not ask for help because of the negative connotations associated with a mental illness. On campus, Health and Counseling Services is introducing the Hi F.I.V.E. campaign to eliminate the stigma and prejudice around mental health by: Friendship, Invite conversation, Value everyone’s gift, and Eliminate stigma. If you are interested in making a commitment to provide a safe place for those who struggle and/or experience mental health distress, visit the Hi F.I.V.E. website to make a pledge.

With midterms just around the corner, this blog post intends to provide you with a few tips on how to manage common mental illnesses amongst university students, like stress, anxiety, and depression. Horowitz says that your perception of a situation is what triggers you to feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. You can manage these feelings by questioning your perception and looking at the situation differently. For example if you are stressed about having to meet multiple deadlines, you can re-evaluate the situation and address all your tasks one step at a time to make you feel less overwhelmed. However, sometimes when you are caught in the moment, this is difficult to do, so here are some reminders about overall health and wellness.

  • Get enough sleep – give your body enough time to recharge and work at its best. Lack of sleep can cause you to be too tired or cranky to focus

  • Decrease your caffeine intake – caffeine increases anxiety levels and irritability. Dependence on caffeine can also affect your sleeping habits

  • Eat healthy – it is so easy to go to a vending machine and buy chips or candy while studying, but these contain a lot of fat, salt, and sugar. Try to eat fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins in minerals that your brain needs

  • Be active – working out or doing yoga are some popular fitness activities, but even taking a 15 minute walk in between your studies can also be beneficial. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that improve your mood, making you feel happier and more relaxed.

  • Avoid isolating yourself – humans are naturally social beings that need to feel connected and supported for optimal mental health

If your stress, anxiety, and depression become unmanageable, do not hesitate to book an appointment with Health and Counseling and don’t be ashamed of having a mental illness. It is perfectly natural. Good luck with your midterms.

Special Projects Assistant
visibility  115
Oct 2, 2013

You Might Like These... Mental Health, Workplace Success

A man sitting at the surrey campus
My Boss Hates Me and I Can’t Do Anything Right: Common Thinking Traps and How to Avoid Them

SFU Health and Counselling Services offers suggestions on how to adopt a more balanced way of dealing with potentially negative situations to help avoid stress, anger and other negative feelings or reactions.

A woman reaching out and touching the shoulder of a man
Empathy for Personal Growth and Beyond

Students in counselling psychology become very familiar with the term “empathy."The message that empathy is the cornerstone to successful therapy is pounded into your brain until you stop asking how or why it’s important, and start accepting it as a fact.

People on Mount Fuji
Re-Entry Culture Shock: The Sojourner’s Homecoming

Trying to decide if going on an International Co-op Placement is right for you?  Follow these words of advice so you can make a well informed decision.

You Might Like These... Mental Health

An empty journal laying open with a pencil resting on it.
Learning to Express Yourself in a Healthy Way

As the year winds down, it's time to look inward. OLC staff member Terae notes down her favourite ways to beat the blues. 

A woman wearing a mask looking off into the distance
Sticking with Your Resolutions

2022 is here! Read Terae's piece on how to be kind to yourself in the new year.