According to a study by American Psychology Association, 52 percent of adults have experienced “very or somewhat significant” stress because of the 2016 presidential election.

This concept is not unheard of in the past. In 1980, just after Republican Ronald Reagan was elected president, The State News reported a suicide rate three times higher than usual. 

Students at MSU have also been impacted.

“Among students at MSU, there have been a wide range of responses among students with a variety of political perspectives, including stress and anxiety, a negative impact on mood, struggles with sleep, attention and concentration, and a sense of being angry, afraid, unsafe or hopeless,” director of the Counseling Center Scott Becker said in an email.

Students seeking help have a variety of options on campus.

“There are resources available on campus,” marketing and communications manager for Olin Health Center Kathi Braunlich said in an email. “For those who are stressed, feeling overwhelmed, depressed or anxious about the election, the MSU Counseling Center is available to provide support and resources. They do have walk in hours in the afternoon for those who feel they need to talk with someone right away.”

The Counseling Center has created spaces for students to talk about their experiences, including a group created specifically for students who have experienced racism. The group is called Healing from Racial Trauma, Becker said.

There can be a stigma associated with seeking help.

“Stigma may be an obstacle to some students seeking help, and we would encourage any student who is interested in receiving counseling to understand that stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues are actually quite common, and that help-seeking is a sign of strength and resilience,” Becker said.

Becker emphasized the fact that students who have been affected by the election should not be afraid to seek help.

“Students who feel that they are being affected by the election or the events surrounding it should be encouraged to seek support from their family, friends, mentors, advisors, faculty and staff, and the Counseling Center facilitates this process of reaching out and identifying a variety of sources of social support,” Becker said.