oe

re

me

<r ate” athinail

 

eR

i

“+

aT aaa Tne mee de reese”

acs

March 5, 1996

New scientific discovery: students are stressed out!

Students under more stress than ever before

by Michele Parent

priorities are affecting students,” he said.
University used to be a safe place to
work out issues, says Tisdall, but
the future is not clear for
university graduates, with no
more concrete guarantees.
“Every generation has its
stresses,” he said. “But
the changes going on in
the world right now
are enormous. The
changing pressures
and monetary
concerns are
overwhelming.”
The study’s
results were
not news to
University
of Alberta
student
council

president

TORONTO (CUP) — Students are
experiencing higher stress levels than in
the past as their futures grow less certain,
according to a recent University of
Alberta study. Four-hundred-and-fifty
students were anonymously surveyed
last year at the U of A and the results
showed two-thirds had moderate to high
levels of concern about self-esteem and
their futures. Also causing anxiety
among students, the study found, were
physical, psychological and mental
health issues.

“Student stress has always been
there,” said Karen Kovach, one of the
authors of the U of A report. “However,
the perception of the world is the not the
same. Career and economic uncertainties
are playing a larger role in everyday
student life than ever before.”

Gordon Tisdall, director of
psychiatric services at the University of
Toronto, agrees that students are dealing
with more stress now than in the past.

“If you go to university, what does
the future hold? This is the question on
every student’s mind,” he said. While
Tisdall says increased stress is not
limited to students, he adds university
life has its own set of issues. “The
changes institutions are
making, the financial
constraints, the
mobilization of
resources and

changing
ges —==

 

 

   

7 : % \

   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
 
   
 
  
       
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
  

Garett Poston. He says
although students are
faced with few job
prospects upon
graduation and
other problems,
he thinks they
are managing
well with their
seemingly dark
fut urr-e:s%
“Students are
doing a good job
dealing with their
stress,” he said.
“Our tuition has
doubled in five
years, the quality of
education has gone
down, and our future is
pretty bleak. We are
working more for less.
“But students are not the
only ones.”
Tisdall says students are
more willing to confront
their problems with stress
than in the past. “They are
able to identify stress and will
want to talk to a peer, faculty
member, or to search out
psychiatric
services to
confront

a
r

a)

 

 

 

 

 

     
    
     
       
   

Message from the news coordinator

Since many of the Other Press news writers did not submit stories this
issue, I was left with this space to waste.

  

 

 

 

 

Do you know how many trees had to die in order to print this? I
place the blame exclusively on YOU, the reader. You didn’t submit a story.

Please write news for the OP.

their stress,” he said. And a changing
student body with different priorities
may also be a source of growing stress,
say Guy Caron, chair of the Canadian
Federation of Students. Caron says more
single parents are going to university and
their load is a heavy one to bear.
Combining family life with education,
the constantly increasing financial
barriers and the stress of not knowing
whether or not you will have a job,
makes student life difficult,” he said.

“T hope this study will be convincing
enough for people who think students
are bums, to change their minds about
student life.” Lucille Peszat, director of
the Canadian Centre for Stress and Well-
being, says students can help themselves
deal with their stress by preparing for a
rapidly shifting job market.

She says the future will see more free-
lance work, employment in a series of
jobs and a need for continuous learning,
growing and changing.

Caron adds that is important to know
your limits and to identify what is and is
not within your control. “It is impossible
to have control over unemployment
levels,” he said. “Try to limit your
sources of stress and [acquiring] stress-
dealing techniques is essential. “Good
time management skills are equally
important—avoid the ‘last minute.”

 

What do countries like
Japan, Thailand, Taiwan,
Hong Kong, Singapore,
Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia,

Germany, and Mexico have
to do with UVic?

UNIVERSITY

OF VICTORIA
| aamge

USE has

 

 

 

Each year, the Bachelor of Commerce Program at UVic sends
lots of students to these exciting countries on exchange.

 

Then there are the numerous overseas CO-Op opportunities
available in these countries for B.Com students interested in
gaining an edge that few universities offer; co-op positions in
organizations like the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation, Dorint Hotels in Germany, and Hokkaido
Government of Japan. Of course, there are also the many
students who arrive from these and other countries to study
at UVic, adding a uniquely international perspective to the
entire program. The Faculty of Business has an innovative
approach to internationalizing its student body, giving each
student a unique experience, a challenging degree, and an
impressive resume!

Positions are available for both domestic and International
(visa) students.

 

 

Please send me your:
1 domestic student package
1 international student package

Bachelor of Commerce Program Request Form:

 

 

 

Name
Address Please mail or fax this form to:

nee Bachelor of Commerce Program
Pre abi Selects toa eee Faculty of Business, University of Victoria

 

P.O. Box 3015, Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 3P |

H flee popes ee Re ee Eee
ome. College Fax: (604) 721-6457 Phone: (604) 721-8264