College Student Grief Awareness Day 2023: Dates, history and activities

College Student Grief Awareness Day 2023: College Student Grief Awareness Day is celebrated on April 20 this year. Every year, the third Thursday of April is set aside for this national awareness day created to recognize college students, their struggles, and the toll it takes on their mental health. According to statistics, at least one in every five U.S. college students suffers from grief or melancholy considering the continuous pressure they face. This holiday raises awareness of that and encourages conversation on methods to improve the situation.

HISTORY OF COLLEGE STUDENT GRIEF AWARENESS DAY

Psychological issues and pathologies haven’t always been well understood. Although depressive disorders are well documented nowadays, college student grief is generally considered a recent development with several distinctions identified.

The earliest mention of melancholy as we know it today dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century. French psychiatrist Louis La Siauve is by far one of the earliest scholars to research depression as a psychiatric symptom. The classification of psychological disorders and symptoms evolved into a number of subclasses over the course of the 20th century. Later on, depression amongst youths and adolescents started garnering the interest of academics and researchers. Students, in particular, endured the most, considering the pressures of academics and, in some cases, personal grief.

As of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, melancholy and grief among university students became a more documented issue. Recent studies indicate that 44% of university students in America suffer grief-related issues, particularly depression. This has prompted numerous initiatives on the subject. The Actively Moving Forward (A.M.F.) group began as a student group in 2004, organizing support groups for college students to help them cope with personal grief and depression. The group has assisted over 2000 students across several universities in the United States. A.M.F. established College Student Grief Awareness Day in 2015 in an effort to raise awareness of the issue.

HOW TO OBSERVE COLLEGE STUDENT GRIEF AWARENESS DAY

Help college students

College pupils are among the most vulnerable individuals. Not only are they frequently in dire financial circumstances, but they are also under constant mental stress. Helping college students on this day is the most fitting method to commemorate it.

Read about the issue

As a rarely documented issue, information on grief and depression amongst young people, college students particularly, can often be elusive. Luckily, several breakthroughs have been made lately. Understanding the nuances of the issue by reading about it is the first step in assisting college students with their plight.

Attend and participate in events

Several universities across the U.S. will coordinate events, panel discussions, performances, and many more, during this annual observance day. Local support groups, community members, and other organizations will have their own events. Make sure to attend a couple and partake in the activities that will have some impact on the issue.

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5 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT STUDENT DEPRESSION

It affects many individuals

According to statistics, at least one in every six college students is suffering from melancholy or grief.

A prevalent cause of death

Suicide due to depression is the second most common cause of death amongst college and university students.

The first year

The earliest symptoms of depression in a college student almost always appear in their first year, which molds much of their outlook for the rest of their study period.

The causes are elusive

Depression sometimes has no apparent causes and can remain even after any identifiable cause ceases.

No visible symptoms

Depression and grief can often show no visible symptoms, and sufferers rarely seek support or professional assistance.

WHY COLLEGE STUDENT GRIEF AWARENESS DAY IS IMPORTANT

Grief is a significant issue

The number of college students suffering from depression and other mental health issues seems to be increasing. Despite the numerous initiatives and breakthroughs made during the last few years, more effort is still required.

More cases in universities

As depression and related issues become increasingly noticeable in colleges, they’ve become an unaccommodating place to be. It is apparent that several aspects of the university system need to be reshaped, and this holiday creates the necessary attention for making that happen.

Student life is a chaos

The university stage is one of the most vulnerable periods of one’s existence. Between the constraints of academics and anxiety about the transition into the professional world after graduation, it can be daunting for anyone. This is the main reason why depression amongst university students is an urgent issue.