Depression Among College Students
"In the months before a sophomore at Massachusetts Institute of Technology died, she spoke with seven psychiatrists and one social worker. The psychiatrists diagnosed major depression; the therapist recommended hospitalization. She even told a dean that she was cutting herself and let a professor know that she wanted to commit suicide. But it wasn't enough. Four days later, she was dead" (Shea 1). The American College Health Association reports that 76 percent of students felt "overwhelmed" last year while 22 percent were sometimes so depressed they couldn't function. The college years are times of transition and growth. It's a time when we try to find a place in the world and want to gain independence from our family. This makes us susceptible to depression. "Depression refers to noticeable changes in our mood and ranges from mild feelings of sadness to intense feelings of hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts. Sometimes depression is associated with other problems such as anxiety, eating disorders, and alcohol/substance abuse"(Robinson 1) Depression can happen gradually or it can be triggered by specific events. For instance, some of us may feel depressed when we move away from home to att
Since many college students are at serious risk for depression, there are many things that need to be done to prevent and fix this terrible disorder. First and foremost a counseling center should be established at every university. Most universities today have set up a counseling center for students to have the option to talk to a counselor and straighten out their problems. Trained counselors can properly evaluate and determine the state of an individual's depression. "This network of advisors is definitely a good idea and has been praised by the "Depression and Suicide" website because it found that "college kids are more apt to seek treatment for their depression because of the network of advisors looking out for their welfare and the vast resources offered to them in terms of therapists"(Johnson 1). However, the ratio of graduate student counselors to licensed psychologists should be as small as possible; in order to make sure each student has the right amount of treatment. There are some drawbacks to this however. Students tend to feel somewhat insignificant and do not feel that their problems are important enough to burden a counselor with. The Princeton University Counseling Center's web page states, "Some students are reluctant to come to the Counseling Center because they fear their concern or problem isn't serious enough to warrant a counselor's attention" (Bell 1). This could be avoided by giving free depression screenings on campus. If students had easier access to knowing they have a problem that warrants help, then it would be much easier to get help for it. Also, in the past, students who were recognized to have any interest in suicide or had problems with severe depression were promptly sent home on medical leave. Students are not well served by such policies that impose automatic medical leaves and return them depressed into families that may be uncontrollably disorganized. For many, a supportive campus setting enables them to continue their studies while receiving treatment. "Depending on the counselor's assessment, antidepressants may be prescribed. Approximately five percent of prescriptions filled at student health centers are antidepressants. These medications help to balance the neurotransmitters in the brain. Students taking antidepressants should also continue counseling, and they should always follow their doctor's orders. Depression is a terrible and frightening experience, but one that it is treatable with counseling and if necessary
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Approximate Word count = 1683
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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