Services available for students amid the start of Mental Health Awareness Month

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Finals week poses as a stressful time for college students, marking the start of Mental Health Awareness Month.

According to the 2023 Healthy Minds Study, 76% of college students have reported moderate to severe physiological distress. Among students, 36% of students reported anxiety and 28% having feelings of depression.

Local organizations are working to help bring attention and support for college students during a stressful month.

"Missouri Western has done a lot of good things around here for us as students," Missouri Western student Nathaniel Fortney said. "The student academic center does a good job of bringing people in, helping them out. In my stats class, the professor was recommending people to go to the student academic center and get the help that they feel they need.

Some of the support includes help from the Samaritan Counseling Center, which will be active in the community for their "May Day Flowers for a Cause" sale. The center will sell bouquets for $30, proceeds will go toward services offered by the center.

Missouri Western is also holding a "Finals Feeding Frenzy" on Sunday, May 4 as a way for students to have a good meal and socialize with others.