Depression Among College Students

Posted: September 26th, 2022

 Homework and assignments are a big part of life in college. Homework can range from reading or writing papers to solving math problems and doing lab reports. Homework can be stressful, especially if you do not have the time to do it. The expectation of pressure may also play a role in assignment stress when deadlines are approaching and students fail to allocate enough time for homework completion. Excessive work has been linked to increased frequency and severity of depressive mood symptoms among university students (Coyne & Ben-Porath, 2008). Depression among college students has become an issue across institutions in the United States because depression causes students financial issues as well as hindering their ability to perform academically (Smith et al., 2015).

The National Center of Education Statistics (NCES) reported that in 2004-05, 81 percent of full-time undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions had done an assignment that took five or more hours to complete. Homework is also linked to a student’s GPA as well. According to the High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE), 67% of freshmen who indicated they do 2 hours or less per week report a GPA range of 3.0 – 4.0, while only 44% of students doing 10 or more hours a week have this high-grade point average (McFarland & Lummis, 2011). 

Homework can cause mental stress which may result in depression for students because it can be difficult and time-consuming. Depression has many symptoms, including sadness and lethargy. Depression can result in academic issues for students because it may cause them to not perform as well academically, which may affect their GPA. Depression occurs when the chemical balance in someone’s brain is off. Depression can be caused by genetics, environmental factors, or a mixture of both (NIMH). Depression can lead to suicide and other health-related problems later in life if left untreated (National Institute of Mental Health). Depression can also arise from sleep deprivation (Kroenke et al., 2007).

The data on college students with depression presented at the National College Health Assessment II indicate that between 10% and 20% of students have reported feelings consistent with clinical depression—in most cases, they are feeling sad or depressed, have low energy and motivation, sleep too much or too little, experience appetite changes, and feel worthless (Brown et al., 2011). Depression was assessed using five questions taken from the Depression section of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (CFQ-D), a self-administered screening tool designed to detect Depression in primary care settings. Depression was not measured directly but rather was based on students’ responses to these five questions which established a probable Depression diagnosis. In addition, 8% reported thoughts of suicide within the past year and 5% reported having made plans for suicide; depression may be one cause for these reports. Depression among college students is often linked to academic issues because if you are depressed it can interfere with your ability to study and it can cause you to not do as well as you should in school.  Depression may also be caused by genetics and environmental factors such as stress at home or from sleep deprivation. Depression is a multifactorial illness and the most common symptoms of depression are sadness, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and poor concentration (National Institute of Mental Health). Depression among college students may lead them to have suicidal thoughts if they feel hopeless about their Depression or if they are unable to see beyond suffering. College professors need better methods of identifying students with Depression so that they can get the proper treatment for their illness. It is important for professors to be able to identify students with depression because an estimated $22 million of the total $65 billion debt that college students currently owe stems from being unable to pay for their medical treatments (CNN).

Professor training on how to recognize symptoms and determine the level of need is important in reducing the effects of mental health issues such as depression among college students, in addition to creating a more supportive environment where all types of Mental Health Issues can be openly discussed. A first step toward improving student support would be increased awareness and understanding within the teaching community regarding mental health and its potential psychological impacts on students (Kendler & Gardner, 2014). 

4 tips on managing depression as a student :

1 . Take care of yourself. Make time for relaxing activities like exercise, meditation, a walk-in nature, or anything else you enjoy doing. If this is not possible due to your busy schedule, try and fit these activities into your schedule as often as possible; they might help to relieve some depressive feelings and prevent them from intensifying over time.

2 . Never ignore symptoms of depression. To manage depression successfully it needs to be treated properly by someone experienced with the illness (National Institute of Mental Health). 

3 . Talk to a friend. When you feel down, someone who can listen to what’s going on in your life and lend a helpful ear can make all the difference in the world. If you know a friend who is also going through depression or going through something similar, ask them if they want to be there for each other and be understanding of what you are experiencing as best they can.

4 . Seek professional help if necessary. It is not easy discussing mental health issues with someone close to you, but as stated above it can be essential for eliminating symptoms of depression over time (National Institute of Mental Health).

There is a lot of controversy over who will be affected by depression and anxiety on college campuses. Some groups are less likely to become depressed, such as those with higher educational levels or families of lower-income. However, even minorities and athletes may become depressed in university if they feel isolated from their community (National Institute of Mental Health). 

Certain universities around the country have begun to offer programs that deal with stress management. The chance for a student to receive this type of help can only improve with time as more schools realize the importance of it. Although there are still many students struggling with mental illness who end up dropping out, which leaves them without any sort of medical coverage (National Institute of Mental Health). With proper training and support for counselors

Preventative measures need to be put in place by professors and students themselves. Focusing on the causes and symptoms of Depression may lead to a better understanding of how it affects college life. In order for a professor to be able to offer better help to students struggling with depression, they need proper training on how it affects college life. Feeling burdened with work back in school,contact  essay refinement services and we will help you ace your homework!