As the campus is covered with snow following last week’s time change, student mental health is important to keep an eye on.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the winter season has been shown to worsen mental health symptoms. This is because the production of serotonin is disrupted during the winter season and students with existing mental health disorders are more likely than the average student to feel the weight of the time change.
In a recent study conducted by AARP in 2020, it was found that listening to music can help improve an individual’s mental health and life outlook. No matter how you enjoy and interact with music, casual or musician, music has been traced back to lowering and maintaining stress levels, anxiety and depression.
For this edition of Torch tunes, the Torch has decided to focus on making a student-based listening playlist, including songs that make them happy to share with other students on campus who might be struggling.
“SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHT” – XG. This song, recommended by Design senior, Abby Keown, is a blend of high-energy ’90s garage rhythms translated into modern pop.
“Hole in the Earth” – Deftones. Straight from the mechanical engineering sophomore, Gabe Desantiago’s playlist. The Deftones album is one of his current favorites.
“Music is a good distraction; it gives you 15 minutes to relax and forget about everything,” Desantiago said. “All you have to do is put a few songs on.”
“Heavy” – The Marías. With a different musical direction than her brother, allied health senior Julissa Desantiago shared a calmer song.
“As the seasons are changing and it’s getting colder, more people start to feel low and heavy,” Desantiago said. “I think sometimes it’s nice to have a good song that you can relate to at times.”
“Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues” – Jim Croce. Pre-pharmacy sophomore Gabriel Cochrane believes that sometimes a funny song is key.
“This song tells a story about a guy who’s depressed and works at a car wash,” Cochrane said. “I enjoy the language and the beat in comparison to the lyrics, which share what he is going through.”
“Karma” – Taylor Swift. Integrative studies senior Alyson Neureither shared one of her top five Swift tracks.
“I’ve loved Taylor my whole life,” Neureither said. “This song is very upbeat and shares the message that you don’t have to worry about what anyone else says, and you should just do you.”
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift. Forensic biology senior Jessica Lipp shared this 2010s classic.
“I think when you’re struggling, sometimes it feels like you’re alone,” Lipp said. “When you listen to music, maybe [the artist] is mimicking some of those thoughts you have, or maybe you need to listen to something completely different compared to what you’re feeling.”
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier. Social work freshman Izzy Pitts focused on her current favorite listen, focusing on how even something as simple as hearing a soothing voice can increase one’s mood.
“Springsteen” – Eric Church. Sharing a song with a loved one is even more special. Modeling engineering freshman, Carter Sackect chose to share this song because it’s one he and his girlfriend enjoy listening to together.
“Taste” – Sabrina Carpenter. Jumping from country to pop, Digital animation and game design senior Jason Zawacki enjoys the witty, funny lyrics and good beats behind this track.
“Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield. Criminal justice senior Arabella Beckhorn highlighted this classic that, no matter how much time passes, still brings a smile to her face.
“Let Down” – Radiohead. Integrative studies senior Jorden Bos enjoys this song because of the line “one day I am going to grow wings”, which she mentioned has a different meaning to lots of listeners and she enjoys how a song can have multiple meanings.
“Black Hole Fantasy” – The Crane Wives. Pre-nursing sophomore Asha Hatt highlights a song with important messaging. With strong storytelling themes, this song focuses on moving forward and finding the courage to do the thing you’ve been afraid to do.
“[The end message] is that everything turns out okay, and that’s super sweet,” Hatt said. “I think music can be incredibly grounding and can help a person focus on something other than their thoughts.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, please contact Ferris State’s Personal Counseling Center at (231) 591-5968 or Th****@****is.edu.