Services Available to Help Students Cope With Stress

November 19, 2003

By Stacey Curry Gunn

If you're stressed out, you're certainly not alone. There's more than enough stress to go around for students these days as assignments and essays grind on and final exams near. Then there's the added pressure of dealing with roommates, paying bills and coping with the many other demands that life sends along.

If it's getting to be too much, help is available through Counselling Services in the University Centre, the Wellness Centre (part of Student Health Services) in the Powell Building, residence assistants in campus residences, and the Student Support Network and the Multi-Faith Resource Team in Raithby House.

"There are many stresses on students' lives these days, more so than ever before," says Bruno Mancini, director of Counselling and Student Development. The signs of stress can range from lack of motivation, lack of confidence and tiredness to depression and extreme anxiety.

"Students all react differently," he says. "Most responses to stress are normal and to be expected. But for some students, more serious reactions can occur, such as major depression and severe anxiety disorders, which can lead to greater dysfunctionality. These need to be addressed and dealt with appropriately."

Counselling Services served more than 700 students in September and October, an increase of 17 per cent over last year. Mancini says that could be due to the fact that there are more students on campus this fall or that people are being more open about seeking help.

"We try to help them develop the resources, strength, insights and strategies to cope with things," he says.

Mancini sees students stressed by the struggles of academic workload, relationship issues, family difficulties, the increased competition for professional and graduate schools, and concerns about employment and debt.

"It's expensive coming to university, and parents are more involved," he says. "It used to be people went to university to find out who they are, what they're going to do. Now parents are more involved in the educational system from day one. It can be very positive and supportive, but it can be intrusive, too, in terms of expectations and the fact that students are more dependent on their parents financially."

Prof. Judith McKenzie, Political Science, reports that she is seeing "enormous numbers" of students, especially first-year students, who are looking for help.

"Given the stresses many members of the double cohort class have been subjected to trying to get into university, this is the second year of stress they're experiencing."

Prof. Carol Dauda, Political Science, who teaches two large first-year courses, says she finds students are especially stressed if they have an exam on the first day of the exam period or if most of their exams are in the first week.

Both professors have observed that students appear to be taking their work more seriously this year, which could be attributed to the work ethic the double cohort has developed to get to university in the first place.

"I have had notably higher mid-term averages," says Dauda. "I think this is because students are really working hard. I can see this incredible push by my students, this incredible energy."

For more information about services available on campus to help students deal with stress, visit the website www.uoguelph.ca/students.shtml.