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Health Services |
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| When are the “blues” more than a bad mood? Most students will experience passing episodes of feeling “down” or depressed. In fact, studies have shown that nearly half of all college students have reported feeling so depressed at some point that they had difficulty functioning. 25% of young adults will experience a significant depressive episode (called major depression) by age 24 and would benefit from treatment. Major depression is defined as a combination of symptoms that have persisted for more than 2 weeks and have interfered with normal functioning. Symptoms of major depression include: |
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-Sadness or anxiety |
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| What causes depression? The cause of depression is usually a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. If a student suffering with depression looks into family history, they will often find that other family members have had depressive illness. Low self-esteem may also contribute to depression. And the stress of college life can be overwhelming if you are already feeling depressed. Common stressors in college include: -Intense academic demands |
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| What about depression and faith? Having a strong Christian faith is no guarantee that you are protected from depression. Christians are vulnerable to the same illnesses as everyone else. Faith can give you hope beyond your present circumstances but it won’t eliminate your risk for depression. |
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| What if I don’t get treated? The consequences of untreated depression can increase your risk for substance abuse and poor school performance. It can wreak havoc on your social life. At its worst, it can increase the risk for suicide- a leading cause of death in college students. The college years are vital in the lives of young people. During this time you are establishing long-term relationships, making plans for the future and becoming independent of your parents. Feeling confident about your decisions and thought processes is critical. |
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| How is depression diagnosed? If you recognize some of these symptoms in yourself, there are on-line screening tests that will help you decide if you should seek professional help. A good one can be found at the Broene Counseling Center’s website: https://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/select_screening.asp. If you have concerns for yourself or a friend about depression, both Calvin Health Services and the Broene Center offer low- or no-cost consultations in a confidential setting. Our clinicians can help you determine whether you would benefit from therapy or treatment. For more information about campus services, visit our WebPages. Health Services: http://www.calvin.edu/admin/health |
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| How is it treated? Calvin students have wonderful resources for the treatment of depression right here on campus. Counselors at the Broene Counseling Center can help a student address the issues that are troubling them and provide confidential therapy. Broene counselors can coordinate with Health Services clinicians to evaluate any possible physical causes of depression and prescribe medications where indicated. A combination of medication and counseling has been shown to be very effective in relieving symptoms of depression. |
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| Additional resources: Here are some reliable websites: http://www.healthyminds.org/collegementalhealth.cfm |
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| Want to win a prize? Take an interactive quiz about depression and win a gift certificate to either Pietro’s Back Door or the Calvin Store. Previous winners during this school year are not eligible for prizes, but may still take the quiz. |
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| Read previous health news articles | |||
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