This past week I was giving a tour and a prospective student came up to me and asked me a question, the question that inspired this article. They asked “What is the depression and mental health like on your campus? Is it acknowledged by your school or does it just get passed by like it does at most institutions? Is depression really apparent here?” It took me by surprise to hear these types of questions, but I realized that they are one that should be asked and addressed. There are a lot of colleges that don’t acknowledge how much school can affect a person’s mental health; Evergreen isn’t one of them. There are multiple different resources available on campus that make it a little easier for all the students that go to Evergreen. We have unlimited, free hours available in our counseling center so that students can always have someone to talk to if they feel like they need it. We also have the light lounge which is basically a bunch of vitamin D “Happy Lights” that students can sit in front of to get extra vitamins since it can be pretty gloomy here in Washington. Students can also rent them out from student housing for the dorm rooms which makes it a lot easier to access! However, even with these resources, it doesn’t mean that depression and mental health issues aren’t apparent on our campus.

Depression is going to be a problem on any college campus pretty much no matter what. School takes a toll on everyone and a lot of colleges and universities will simply ignore it and say that everything is fine, even if it isn’t. Evergreen acknowledges mental health and tries to do everything that they can to provide help for students that feel they need it. When I first started attending Evergreen, I struggled with depression as did most of my friends. We all had our own ways of dealing with the anxiety and depression that comes along with being in college, some of which involved the schools resources and some that didn’t. I had a few different activities that I would try whenever I was feeling depressed or super anxious. My favorite was always to just go for a walk in the woods, either by myself or with a close friend, and find a nice area where I could sit and draw or set up my hammock. Evergreen has 800 acres of undeveloped forest that is perfect to go relax in and get some much needed fresh air. I often times will find one of the tree houses that are set up in the woods and climb up there to read; it feels like a whole new world when you’re off the ground and among the trees.

It does tend to rain here in Olympia quite a bit so sometimes going outside doesn’t feel like an option. Sometimes the gloominess of our weather here can make it more difficult for the students because it feels so much harder to get out of bed and actually do things, at least in my experience that is. When this happens, I usually try and take the bus downtown and sit in a coffee shop. That way I’m not just cooped up in my room doing homework or reading but I can still be inside in a nice setting and feel relaxed. Burial Grounds is always my favorite place to go sit because it’s one of the more laid back coffeeshops downtown and makes me feel at home. It doesn’t hurt that their drinks are amazing. Hanging out with friends is always a good option too! Evergreen has lots of clubs to join, or make your own with the help of only three other people, so that you can find people who are interested in similar things as you.  My friends and I would always get together in the dorms or in our apartments to just chill and play some music.

Self care is a huge deal. Often it’s when you’re extremely over worked and have no time to yourself that you realize you need to take a minute for yourself. Maybe call in from work that day or take one of those three absences that you have for your program, and just take a day for yourself. Sometimes just treating yourself to dinner or a movie can make a huge difference in your depression. Whenever I feel like I really need a day of self care, I’ll go buy some face masks and ice cream from target and just settle in with a good movie or tv show on Netflix for the night. All the stores are super close to campus so it won’t ever be too far out of the way. If you’re someone who enjoys being more social during your self care, find a house show to go to! There’s always some kind of event going on in Olympia. If there’s not, invite some friends to join you for movies and face masks and enjoy your self care time together. You all deserve it, college is hard.

The main point of this article is just to take care of yourself. College can be really stressful and sometimes it can feel like you don’t have any time to worry about yourself. Take that time. It won’t matter how well you do in school if your mental health is in bad shape. You come first.