World Mental Health Day is Thursday, Oct. 10, and with the toll the busy college life can take, Fullerton College is here to help with resources available for students.

World Mental Health Day is a day to recognize that those who are struggling are not alone. The day is also organized to help raise awareness so that society can take steps towards ending the stigma on mental health.

The theme selected for this year’s Mental Health Day is suicide prevention. According to the World Health Organization, suicide affects all age groups in all countries and is the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds.

The World Federation for Mental Health are the organizers of World Mental Health Day. This year’s day is supported by the World Health Organization, International Association for Suicide Prevention, and United for Global Mental Health.

These organizations want to end the stigma and to let those who are struggling know that they are not alone.

There has been a stigma on mental health for years causing people to suppress feelings, and deal with them on their own. Many feel that if they searched for help it would label them as “crazy” or “weak.”

The truth is, mental health is serious and people battle with it in their own way on a daily basis; including college students who are discovering themselves and trying to build their lives.

Juggling school, work, social life, sleep and even taking care of others can make life overwhelming. It becomes necessary to reach out to someone for help.

Sometimes having an outlet can make all the difference.

Mental health is important to keep up with in the same way that people keep up with their physical health. Just like when people get sick and need to go to the doctors for a cure, it is necessary for the mind to also get treated.

The Health Center at Fullerton College offers free psychological services and mental health counseling to enrolled students.

Students have the opportunity to meet with a licensed mental health professional for a screening and evaluation to determine how mental health needs can be met for the student.

Individual, couple and group sessions are available.

If necessary, students can also be referred to outside agency if their needs are not being met.

Sessions are limited and are typically 45-50 minutes. The goal is for the professional and the student to work together collaboratively so the student can reach their goals.

They say that most students can be helped in as little as three to four sessions if they work at it.

If students want to make an appointment, they must be made in person at the Health Center which is in room 1204 located near the north gym.

Appointments do fill up as they are a first come, first served basis. Their fall and spring hours are Monday and Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

There is more information about psychological services at Fullerton College as well as phone numbers and hotlines available to students on https://health.fullcoll.edu/psychological-services