The years that students spend in College can be one of the most exciting and rewarding periods of their lives. They are able to pursue the subjects they love and find a new level of freedom and trust from their teachers. However, they can be stressful and tumultuous (混亂的) years as well, full of changes, and often students need help, advice or just a reminder that there are people who care about their wellbeing.
With that in mind, the following interview is for anyone who may be dealing with negative thoughts, social anxiety (社交焦慮), or trauma (心理創傷), or for anyone who knows someone who might be. When depression (抑鬱), isolation (孤獨) or grief (悲傷) appear, it can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to make it easier
In this episode, our student interviewers, Danny and Keith, speak to Phyllis and Dino from the Student Development Office (SDO) about these issues, and discuss ways to either cope (應付) oneself, or help someone else.
They speak about common misconceptions (誤解) around depression, such as the feeling that “it’s all my fault” or that you are alone in feeling this way. Of course, many people struggle with negative thoughts, but some are better at hiding it. The message here is: You are not alone. These are common feelings. Seeking help can be a little scary, though, as it means admitting (承認) something is wrong. Sometimes, the hardest thing is trusting someone else enough to be honest.
Many students will experience hardship or loss, and may not have the supports in place to help them work through it. Phyllis suggests three things to help work through these difficult times: staying connected to other people, physical exercise, and getting enough sleep.
In addition to these three habits, seeking help from trained professionals is usually helpful. Students are encouraged to visit the Student Development Office at LW113 or write them at dilwl-sdo@vtc.edu.hk if they ever feel the need for a helping hand, or just a confidential (機密的) conversation. Students who would like to help are also strongly encouraged to ask about the Peer Counselor Training Program, where they can learn how to best support friends and fellow students.
Asked for any final advice they might have for students who are dealing with negative feelings, Dino repeats a simple maxim:
Pain is short. Life is long. You are strong.
Young people often worry that the way they feel now will be the way they will always feel. It may take time, work and patience, but there is a way to find happiness again.
We sincerely thank everyone involved with this interview for taking the time to discuss the important topic of mental health, and remind students to reach out and ask for help when things get tough. We all need help sometimes. You are not alone.
Special thanks to our DJs:
Danny Kong (DE114104-2F) HD in Digital Music and Media
Castro, Keith Cyrus Angeles (DE114104-2F) HD in Digital Music and Media
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