According to the National Institute of Mental Health Web site, depression affects 17 million American adults every year, but only two-thirds receive treatment.
Violet Robert, a social worker at the Wellness Education and Outreach Services, said most people see depression as a sign of weakness.
This misconception keeps numerous people from receiving help.
However, this illness is determined by genetics and environment Robert said.
According to The Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness’ Web site, there is a 25 percent chance of people getting depression, if they have a close family member such as ar mother, father or siblings who suffer from it.
On the other hand if people do not have relatives with the illness, they could still suffer from depression.
According to the National Mental Health Association’s Web site, this illness affects one in five females during their lifetime.
“A person’s psyche is like a bookshelf,” Robert said. “If it is sturdy then you can pile a lot of stuff on before it starts to dip.”
There are numerous causes for depression among college students.
Some stressors that commonly affect college students are the inability to cope with change, disorganization, losing a friendship or boyfriend, feeling overwhelmed by as large campus and trying to adapt to professors.
“The number one cause of depression in college students is the loss of identity of who you were,” Robert said.
Every student has a bad day occasionally, but depression evolves when the “string of bad days goes on for weeks and then months,” Robert said.
There is a difference between sadness that lasts a short period and depression that could last several years.
“Sadness is a reaction to circumstances, but depression is caused by real changes in your brain chemistry,” Robert said.
By becoming involved, students stay busy and focused and help fight depression.
Robert said students accustomed to the “big fish in a little pond” from high school. So when students attend a large university, it can often be
overwhelming.
“If you know faces, then the numbers shrink down and it’s more manageable,” Robert said.
In order to diagnose depression there are symptom the patient must exhibit.
Usually there are sleep changes where they sleep too much or not enough, lack of concentration, moodiness, irritability, changes in eating habits and behavior that is out of character.
If a person exhibits a number of these characteristics for a period of time, then a friend should confront them.
“Good friends stand by each other with support and catch them when they fall, but they can?t fix their friends,” Robert said.
Talking to someone about your feelings or taking medication are treatments for depression.
According to CME Inc’s Web site, a trained therapist or counselor can help them learn more positive ways to think about themselves, change behavior,cope with problems, or handle relationships.
A physician can prescribe medications to help relieve the symptoms of depression. For many people, a combination of psychotherapy and medication is beneficial.
“Giving antidepressant medications to someone is like learning to play the trombone; you adjust and adjust until you get it right for that person,” Robert said.
Patients should not become discouraged if the first medication they take does not remove their depression.
“Unlike other medication, antidepressants aren’t based on height or weight,” Robert said. “It is based on brain chemistry.”
According to the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association’s website, selected serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), the newest antidepressant drugs, have fewer side effects.
While depression may improve or disappear, there is no prevention for the illness.
“It is impossible to know every variable that affects you,” Robert said.
“You aren’t forewarned and people experience loss all the time.”
Through treatment available on campus, students do not have to suffer in silence.
Students can visit the Wellness Education and Outreach Services and talk to a specialist about their feelings or situation.
“More than 80 percent of people with depression improve when they received appropriate treatment with medication,
psychotherapy or the combination,” DRADA’s Web site
said.
College students at risk for depression
March 18, 2004