With college and school work comes stress, anxiety, and a number of other mental pressures. Being stressed out, overly tired, and even a little anxious is par for the course while pursuing your degree. However, the mental toll of being a college student today is not something that should be ignored or underestimated.

Which is why the University Park Undergraduate Association is teaming up with other Big Ten schools to raise awareness of mental illnesses through the U Are Not Alone initiative and Mental Health & Wellness week starting next Monday.

According to the U Are Not Alone initiative’s website, 25 percent of college students have been diagnosed with or been treated for a mental illness. Similarly, 73 percent of college students have experienced a mental health crisis while in college. Over 50 percent of college students have experienced more than average or tremendous amounts of stress in the past twelve months.

Emily McDonald, UPUA President, believes that the U Are Not Alone initiative will benefit students on campus. “We are working together to spread awareness of mental health issues and take away the stigma [of mental health,]” McDonald said. “These issues aren’t just Penn State issues.”

Here’s the full schedule of next week’s events:

McDonald hopes the initiative brings awareness to the resources that are available for students and that students will feel more comfortable looking and asking for the help they may need.

You can visit Counseling and Physiological Service (CAPS) or the U Are Not Alone website for more information.