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A wide variety of students are not prepared for what college will be like. They enter school thinking it's partying and drinking all the time, but the reality is - college is difficult. It takes a long time for some people to adapt to being in college, especially when living on campus. It is a dramatic change in ones life, making many students depressed. Depressed students have a greater risk of developing substance abuse problems. College students with depression are more likely to drink excessively and smoke marijuana. Students dealing with depression will also start to lack in their studies and skip class more and more.
In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-34 years. Among young adults, 8.3 percent of 18-25 year olds have had serious thoughts of suicide. Depression is one of the biggest risk factors for suicidal youth. Other risk factors include:
- Substance abuse
- family history of mental illness
- stressful life events
- self-harm behavior such as cutting
- prior suicide attempts
College students are more often reluctant to seek help for their depression. It is important for students to know that they are not alone and everyone around them is also adapting to this new life of college. Most colleges or universities have free counseling, so it is an advantage for these students to take this opportunity and get help. The best treatments for college students with depression are antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, help them (or yourself) to get the treatment needed. Everyone deserves happiness.
Works Cited: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/college-students#2
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ReplyDeleteI think this blog post is very revenant. Many college kids do not realize the effects of depression and then it can lead to very serious issues. I wish more people were aware of mental health and how to recover and get help.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it is a serious topic and I agree that students should take advantage of the resources available. Although it is understandable that many people feel scared to seek help.
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