Content Warning: This article contains references to suicide.
As a first-year, long nights of studying, packed schedules and difficult assignments are my norm. Compounded by procrastination, saving enough social battery to hang out with friends and sacrificing sleep to doomscroll, I often find it hard to balance my bustling life. This chaotic life I live is unsustainable and should not be the expectation for Emory University students. We need to take a step back from the inferno and recognize that mental health, not securing a perfect internship or impressing a crush, should be our number one priority. Taking this step requires us to understand the various dimensions of our mental well-being and to seek help before stress and anxiety overcome us.
Poor mental health has become far too normal for Americans, especially among young people. In a Johns Hopkins University (Md.) survey conducted in Spring 2025, researchers found that 15% of individuals aged 18 to 29 reported experiencing a mental health crisis in the past year, a jump from pre-pandemic levels. Gaps in the availability and utilization of proper mental health resources by those in need are likely due to a lack of knowledge, trust or accessibility. There is no doubt: Mental health is a crisis among college-aged students, and it is one we are actively ignoring. Improving mental health is a battle that will require changes in nationwide institutions and societal norms, but the battle we can solve today is the conflict within ourselves.
Growing up, I used to deny my poor mental health. Soundness of mind felt unimportant — it sounded too psychological, not measurable or tangible. I thought that if I were feeling down or upset, I could go on a walk and shrug it off. As I grew older, my misunderstanding regarding my own mental health became clearer when I talked with friends about emotions, stress, love or anger. Some of my friends tried to explain why they needed accommodations for exams, while others mentioned that they had regular therapy sessions to improve their well-being. Yet, I remained confused. At the time, I did not understand what poor mental health actually looked like, causing my friends to question my lack of empathy on the subject.
In middle and high school, I would sit bored in health classes listening to lectures about rising suicide rates and oxidative stress. In my naivety, I disregarded suggestions and solutions that teachers presented to my classes to improve my mental health. In moments of heightened stress — like studying for an important test or applying to college — I dismissed my poor mental state as natural and unavoidable, even though I could have taken steps to feel better.
Over the years, it became clear that any effort to combat poor mental health must begin by recognizing a simple truth: People are anything but ordinary. Differences in our physical, mental and intellectual characteristics should not separate us, but they do shape how we experience and approach mental health. Our backgrounds, our upbringings, and, most importantly, our access to proper resources all shape how we understand our own well-being. Because of these factors, there is no single solution to mental health. Instead, there are many paths someone can take to recognize and improve their mental health. For me, my path has been writing.
My journey as a writer was not easy. I grew up hating English classes and anything to do with writing — ironic in hindsight, as my life now revolves around writing. Since my junior year of high school, I have fallen in love with writing, which has helped me express my emotions, frustrations and thoughts by putting pen to paper. After a long and stressful day, there is nothing that can help me more than putting on a chill playlist and writing until I cannot stay awake anymore.
Freewriting is how I have come to understand my mental health — managing pressure, emotions and who I am. This journey was challenging and took years, but the fight was well worth it. The risks of poor mental health — which can also degrade other facets of well-being, like physical and social health — are simply too great for the price to pay. During my time at Emory, there have already been moments when I have realized that my mental health is slipping. Since I have taken time to learn what helps me stay balanced during hard moments, I was able to reverse course before it became too late.
I share my story as a testament to what understanding mental health can look like and to encourage others to give seeking help a chance. If you are reading this right now and are struggling emotionally, overcome with stress or concerned for your well-being, do not wait to vent to a friend or to call a parent. There are professionals on campus who can help at any hour on any day, and students can schedule confidential well-being check-ins for free. Do not be afraid to contact these offices — they are there for you. At a high-achieving university like Emory, the pressure to succeed will cause stress, but those pressures should never outweigh your ability to grow and thrive.
Emory students can change the negative stigmas around mental health by speaking up, checking in on one another, finding strategies that work to improve their daily lives and taking the time to reflect on their well-being. Neglecting mental health eventually catches up to all of us, so we must act early before small struggles become insurmountable. Sharing my personal story is not easy, but I do it because I know there is someone out there in a similar situation to the one I once experienced who needs to hear it. To anyone who needs to hear this message, know that you are seen, you are loved and you deserve support as you seek help. Let us fight this fight together. Let us get back on our feet, stand shoulder to shoulder and thrive in the time we have left here at Emory.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can call Student Intervention Services at (404) 430-1120 or reach Emory’s Counseling and Psychological Services at (404) 727-7450 orhttps://counseling.emory.edu/. You can reach the Georgia Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at (800) 273-TALK (8255) and the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24/7 at 988.
Contact Joshua Glazer at joshua.glazer@emory.edu
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