Causes of Depression in College Students

Problems with depression and anxiety are common among college students, due to the unique amount of stressors in a student's life. According to Hilary Silver, M.S.W., a social worker and mental health expert, "Students experience many firsts, including new lifestyle, friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and alternate ways of thinking."

Life Changes

• College students are often subjected to an unfamiliar environment with limited access to the people and places they've always known. While some young people thrive in this type of situation, many students find it unsettling and become depressed.

Increased Responsibility

• College students must deal with more responsibility than ever before. Dealing with academic demands, greater financial responsibility and control of their own time management are all very stressful experiences, especially all at once. This amount of stress often leads to depression.

Substance Abuse and Addiction

• Alcohol and drug use are a common part of social life on many college campuses. Young people often turn to these behaviors as a way to fit in or to feel relief from other pressures. Some students develop substance addictions, leading them toward depression.

Downward Spiral

• Depression is often caused by a combination of factors, so what is known as a "downward spiral" effect often occurs. For example, a student who uses alcohol to relieve the stress caused by financial difficulties can become addicted, which in turn worsens his or her depression.