When the spring semester comes to a close, college students across the nation breathe a huge sigh of relief. A year full of papers, presentations, projects, readings, research, quizzes, and tests are left behind and a summer full of sun, fun, internships, and jobs lies ahead. With academic pressures put on hold, summer time is the ideal time for college students to invest in their mental health. Early adulthood is a prime age for many mental health conditions (such as anxiety and depression) to emerge. This past academic year has been especially hard with online classes and remote learning so it is even more important to take care of our mental health after such a mentally taxing year. 

Here are five tips from a therapist for college students to improve their mental health in the summer season:

• Get enough sleep: It’s no secret that university students stay up late and occasionally pull all-nighters – particularly during finals. Adequate, quality sleep is the foundation of mental health. Summer is a good time for students to fall back into better sleep habits – making sure they get in enough sleep hours and maintain consistent bed and wake times. Sleep can be so important for overall mental health. I have other blog posts on sleep hygiene if you are wondering how to get on a solid sleep schedule. 

• Keep up with your friends: Classrooms and residence halls naturally bring students together. When students return to their hometowns, they no longer have the same easy access to friends and peers through proximity. It’s important for young men and women to keep in touch with college friends who may be scattered across the country, connect with friends from home, and seek out new friendships. Isolation can contribute to mental health issues, such as depression, and so socialization can be a great way to combat those feelings.

• Invest in a new hobby: The increase in free-time that summer usually allows, creates an opportunity for college students to dabble in new interests or hobbies. Maybe it is learning a new instrument, picking up knitting, or attempting to rock climb. Whatever it may be, dedicating time and effort towards leisure activities can build self-esteem, satisfaction, and may provide a new way to cope with stress that students can bring with them into their upcoming school year.

• Pursue therapy: If a student is receiving counseling on campus during the academic year, it may be helpful to continue therapy with a clinician in their hometown. And if a student has been struggling with a mental health issue at school and hasn’t had the bandwidth to get counseling support, summer provides the time and space to finally explore the benefits of therapy. Now with the rise of teletherapy this is easier than ever. Therapy is more accessible and can be done from anywhere as long as you still live in the same state as your therapist. 

• Re-evaluate/start medication regimen: If a student is working with a psychiatrist who has prescribed medication or perhaps considering it to help manage mental health challenges, summer could be a good time adjust or begin medication. Efficacy and side effects may be more closely monitored over the summer months without the distractions of school pressures and potential impact on academic performance. Medication can be intimidating to think about, but in the summer you may have more time to try something new and see if it helps you to feel better. Medication can be a game changer for mental health issues.

Therapy Akron, Ohio

I hope you found this post helpful. Please reach out if it seems like we could be a good fit, I am an Akron based therapist who is passionate about serving our community. I am a therapist who works primarily with young adults. I have experience helping young adults navigate the stressful college years and I very much enjoy counseling college students. I see a variety of people in my Akron, Ohio counseling office. I treat people with depression, anxiety, religious trauma and gender dysphoria. Still have questions? Get answers to common questions about counseling here or simply schedule a counseling session today to get started!