College Kids & Depression

Depression is a serious issue no matter who it affects because it can lead to other health and mental problems, and even suicide. When college kids suffer from depression, there are even more components thrown into the mix. Many of them are living away from home for the first time and do not have the support system of the family. Others are concerned with getting high grades or finding a job immediately after graduation.

College-Aged Students

• Depression peaks in the mid- to late-teen years.

  According to John Gerden, M.D., an executive director of the University of Michigan Depression Center, depression tends to peak between the ages of 15 and 19. Although the majority of college students are on the higher end of that scale, it is significant that they are entering college when depression is frequently in its onset. Gerden also estimates that 15 percent of college students are struggling with depression, and approximately 10 percent of students come to college with a history of depression.

Recognizing the Problems

• Classmates should watch out for each other.

  Often, the person who is depressed does not even realize what is happening. Therefore, preventing detrimental consequences from occurring involves the help of those around the depressed person. If a resident assistant, roommate, classmate, friend or teacher suspects that the student may be depressed, he should speak to someone who can directly intervene, such as a parent or guidance counselor. Furthermore, students should be aware of the factors in college that may turn them toward depression.

Stress as a Cause

• When students enter college, they often find that they have more stress in their lives due to new responsibilities. Furthermore, they need to develop their own time management skills in order to handle all of their tasks. Students who are on their own for the first time have to curb their spending, adjust to being away from family and old friends and keep themselves up to date with their schoolwork. College students are also exposed to new people and new ideas, and they may get lost in trying to find themselves.

Academic Pressure

• Some students are unable to keep up with the challenging curriculum of college courses and become depressed as a result. Students who are attending school on scholarships have the added pressure of keeping up a certain grade point average. Juniors and seniors, in particular, begin to look ahead to life after college and become stressed about whether or not they will find jobs or be accepted into their intended graduate degree programs.

Sleep

• Sleep is crucial to a student's mental well-being.

  One of the biggest problems associated with depression is sleep because it can be both a cause and an effect of the condition. Students who do not get enough sleep can experience depression as a side effect, but depression can also cause students to not get enough sleep, making for a vicious cycle. Sleep is particularly important to the study of depression in college students because so many students are trying to cram schoolwork, jobs, internships, activities and a social life into their days that lack of sleep is a constant and widespread problem on college campuses.