Depression on Campus: What's the Solution?

By Timothy Hayes on October 19, 2014

Feeling unmotivated? Having trouble sleeping? Don’t want to go out with friends anymore? Have no energy? Don’t feel like going outside or doing your normal hobbies? Do you have trouble with not eating enough or overeating? Feeling down? You might be depressed.

With the recent death of Hollywood legend Robin Williams, depression is a hot-button topic everywhere and with good reason. It is a leading cause of death in the developed world. This major problem had been slowly gaining recognition, but now it is at the forefront of mental health discussions.

Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain between norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These chemicals are responsible for sending good feelings through us every time we do something good for ourselves, like eat, exercise, or have sex. This is what drives people to keep doing these activities. When your mind stops producing or doesn’t produce enough of these chemicals, most people will experience depression. Symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, apathy, lack of or extreme appetite, feeling down consistently, lack of motivation, and thoughts of guilt, death, or suicide.

Depression and suicide have been described as an epidemic. Depression affects approximately 1 in 20 Americans according to the CDC, and in 2011, suicide was the second most common cause of death for 18-34 year olds and 35-54 year olds and the tenth most common cause of death in America. But it’s not just limited to the United States. According to a recent study on worldwide depression rates, Africa and the Middle East rank among the highest for rates of depression. The study also stated that the rates of depression are up 37.5% since 1990 and that depression has become the second leading cause of disability in the world. The paper even concedes that this data may be downplayed and skewed in the favor of developed countries where understanding of the disease and availability of treatment may increase clinical rates. Countries with limited access to treatment or taboos against mental health may decrease mental health rates.

So depression is a problem. We all get that, but what’s being done about it?

To be brief, not enough. The problem cannot be emphasized enough and frequently isn’t. With distrust of mentally ill persons and stigmas associated with being diagnosed with a mental illness or attempting suicide, a large portion of people do no seek help. This at-risk population as well as suicide survivors are a neglected region of active prevention. Persons who commit suicide are 37 times more likely to succeed the second time and have few if any resources.

Despite this lack of apparent resources, they do exist if you know where to look.

Start with your doctor. Ask them about symptoms you may be experiencing and ask questions about treatment options. If you want to be sure of symptoms before consulting a physician, you might want to try an online screening. If you don’t get a positive result for mental illness, but still feel like you may be experiencing depression or some other mental illness, please consult a physician. Ohio State has a specific center for mental health and psychiatry, as do most colleges. Visit your university’s student health and wellness center for more information.

On your own, get more sleep. Regiment your schedule to allow for eight hours of sleep a night. Make sure you get lots of sunlight and fresh air. Spend time with your friends as much as possible. Skype with family and friends in other states or countries.

Mental health affects all aspects of one’s life. From eating to sleeping to physical distress and illness to suicide, your mental health will have consequences for you and those who love you.

A screening to help determine if you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness:

http://www.ccs.ohio-state.edu/about-us-and-our-services/making-an-appointment/free-anonymous-mental-health-screening/

Ohio State’s Mental and Behavioral Health Services:

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/mental-behavioral/Pages/index.aspx

If you have any thoughts of suicide, please call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Or, if you need immediate help, dial nine-one-one.

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