Depression Information

Depression is Underdiagnosed in College Students


Everyone feels down or blue once in awhile. Especially during difficult times, it's normal to feel sad or discouraged. But when those feelings persist for two weeks or longer, it could be depression. It's a common illness that affects an estimated 19 million Americans-that's nearly one in ten! It's also one of the most under-diagnosed illnesses on college campuses. The symptoms can come on so slowly that one day, a person realizes that he can't remember the last time he felt good. Here are some warning signs for depression:

Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or enjoyment in things that used to be fun
Decreased energy, fatigue
Restlessness, irritability
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Trouble sleeping, or oversleeping
Appetite or weight changes
Thoughts of suicide

Many students suffer needlessly. Depression is often very treatable. Not everyone experiences every symptom, and the severity can vary over time. Depression is not something you can just "snap out of" and make better on your own. This assumption can reinforce feelings of hopelessness and failure. It's important to seek outside help. Through counseling and, in some cases, medication, the majority of people notice significant improvement! If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above for two weeks or longer, here's what you need to do today: Make an appointment with a counselor on campus. Your counselor can screen you for depression and get you the immediate help you need. Do not spend another day suffering in silence!

To learn more about depression, take the National Mental Health Association's online depression screening at www.depression-screening.org.

To learn more about suicide prevention, visit the Jed Foundation Web site at http://www.jedfoundation.org/index.php.

For help with someone who is threatening to commit suicide, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. Their Web site is http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor and author of the college survival guide, "My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! Solve Conflicts, Set Boundaries, and Survive the College Roommate from Hell" (Adams Media). She offers more college survival tips on her Web site, http://www.myroommateisdrivingmecrazy.com


MORE RESOURCES:

WHDH-TV

Atlantic hurricane season's 13th tropical depression forms off ...
CNN - 2 hours ago
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The 13th tropical depression of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season formed Monday in the Bay of Campeche, just off Mexico's Yucatan ...
Depression may form in Mexico's Bay of Campeche - NHC Reuters India
Tropical Depression 13 Swirls Near Mexico Central Florida News 13|
Tropical depression forms near Mexico oil fields Reuters AlertNet
BYM News (press release) - WESH.com
all 1,186 news articles


Many Military Installations Worldwide Participate in National ...
MarketWatch - 58 minutes ago
Command Sergeant Major Samuel M. Rhodes, Sr. from Fort Benning, Georgia, speaks to soldiers about his experience with depression and PTSD in order to ...


Poll: 60% say depression 'likely'
CNNMoney.com - 44 minutes ago
Poll finds 6 of 10 believe a depression is somewhat or very likely - seeing 25% unemployed and millions homeless and hungry. By Chris Isidore, CNNMoney.com ...
Report: Majority says depression is likely USA Today
all 2 news articles


Times Online

Could Obama be the new Roosevelt?
Times Online, UK - 21 hours ago
These were no more than village halts on the railroad to depression. However, we do know when the last global banking crisis was turned round, ...
Then & now San Diego Union Tribune
More Bank, Less Bucks: A Four Point Plan for the Rescue RGE Monitor
Does the US face Great Depression II? Hindu
USA Today - Dividend.com
all 113 news articles


RTE.ie

No depression, major recession, from US finance crisis: Bill Gates
AFP - 18 hours ago
"It looks like the economy may go down somewhat, but nothing like a big recession or a depression," he added. On some experts' misgivings about the US ...
Bill Gates: US financial crisis won't lead to end of capitalism ... Jerusalem Post
all 77 news articles


Signs of depression
Inquirer.net, Philippines - 36 minutes ago
So what is depression? Affecting 121 million people worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that by 2020 depression will become the most ...


BYU joins national day of testing for depression
BYU Newsnet, UT - 3 hours ago
By Jorge Torres - 6 Oct 2008 According to Mental Health America, clinical depression is a common medical illness affecting more than 19 million American ...


Cramer: Preventing Great Depression II
TheStreet.com - Oct 5, 2008
Keep the coming depression -- no, it won't be a mere recession -- shorter than the Great Depression. With that low bar in mind, let me tell you what I would ...
Value Investing 101: Wachovia TheStreet.com
all 79 news articles


Great Depression survivors worried but don't see history repeating
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - 10 hours ago
But is this economic meltdown anything like the Great Depression? "No, this is nothing," said Boca Raton resident Mary Walsh, who at 96 has vivid memories ...


Depression screening day Wednesday
The Courier News, IL - 8 hours ago
270 N. Grove Ave., marking National Depression Screening Day. That there is a need for such a day should come as no surprise. "It's gotten to the point that ...
GSU National Depression Screening Week eNews Park Forest
all 2 news articles

Depression - Google News

home | site map
Web Site Development - Search Engine Marketing: Dream Team Media