Depression Amongst College Students

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am writing to you today because our colleges and universities across the country are faced with a major problem. The number of depressed students is increasing. These students are not able to get the help they deserve, and more importantly need. These institutions are not properly equipped to handle this problem adequately. Out of 8,500 students that participated in the study, only 22% of them received minimally adequate care, defined as “at least two months of antidepressant use plus at least three follow up visits to discuss medication or at least seven mental health-related counseling sessions” (DeBenedette, 2012). Mental health is an integral part of our day to day lives. When our mind cannot function properly, we cannot live our lives to its fullest potential. Depression is defined as a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration interfere with daily life for an extended period of time. College students face many stresses during their academic careers. Getting papers done on time, studying for an exam, doing well in their classes are only a few examples of these pressures. Academic performance is one of the main causes for depression amongst university students (Dyson and Renk, 2006). Students with poor academic performance are most likely to develop depressive symptoms. Another cause for depression is the feeling of not fitting in or not mattering. It was found that “self-esteem and mattering among undergraduates was important for psychological well-being” (Dixon and Kurpius, 2008). Students first entering college life are thrown into a world of many different types of people, and it is difficult for them to find their place. Students try to compensate for this by taking on too many activities and a... ... middle of paper ... ...can perform better academically. I would very much appreciate an opportunity to come present this project in person in April. Works Cited Borchard, Therese J. (2010). Statistics About College Depression [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/09/02/statistics-about-college-depression/ DeBenedette, Valerie. (2012). Few depressed college students receive adequate care. Retrieved from http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-depressed-college-students-adequate.html. Dixon, S. K., & Kurpius, E. S. (2008). Depression and College Stress Among University Undergraduates: Do Mattering and Self-Esteem Make a Difference? . Journal of College Student Development, 49, 412-424. Dyson, R., & Renk, K. (2006). Freshman Adaptation to University Life: Depressive Symptoms, Stress, and Coping. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 1231-1244.

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