While college years can be the best of your life, there are also so many pressures associated with the student lifestyle.

Every student, first year or otherwise, needs to take care of their mental health.

Freshers can sometimes feel like they are taking a step back. The stress of making new friends, moving out of home and living with people you may not know (or like!), as well as studying and taking exams, can all be too much.

But, just remember one thing: everyone is in the same boat. Your classmates may seem confident, but they are probably feeling exactly the same way as you and everyone else in your year.

A recent report by University College Dublin's Geary Institute, which was compiled for the Irish Universities Association and the Higher Education Authority, has indicated that the psychological well-being of one-third of Irish students is lower than that of their average peers.

This deficit in the mental health of university- goers is somewhat linked to financial difficulties, but there are possibly other factors involved.

Psychological problems can affect you well beyond your college years. In fact, a staggering one in four of us will suffer some type of mental health problem during our lifetime. So it is vitally important that if you are feeling overwhelmed, you learn to manage your stress and anxiety properly.

Simple things, like eating a balanced healthy diet, and exercising in the open air at least three evenings a week, can help. The majority of students try to sort out their problems on their own and this can lead to further problems later on in life.

Every year, the USI hold a Mental Health Week to raise awareness about mental health issues and how to deal with them. There are lots of support services available in all of the colleges around Ireland, so please use them, as that is why they are there.

There is a Welfare Officer in all third level institutes to offer advice and support in the strictest of confidence. There are also counsellors available to speak with anyone who feels like they need to thrash out their problems.

There are lots of other support staff there to help with issues that may arise such as Disability Officers, who will assist anyone with a disability, who may need extra support.

There are also student support tutors on hand for advice. There is generally a Careers Officer in most institutions to discuss course changes and progression and an Access Officer for those, who may need assistance financially. Any student can apply to any of these officers for assistance at the start of the year. 

These services are all in place to make student life somewhat easier, so don't hesitate to call into your local student union office for further information.