Stress and anxiety are a normal part of most college students’ lives. But when depression invites itself in and won’t leave, it’s time to take action.
In a 2001 health survey conducted by Student Health Services at East Tennessee State University, 12.7 percent of students surveyed indicated that they had been diagnosed with depression in the last 12 months, said Gary Petiprin, director of ETSU’s Counseling Center. “Nine percent reported having serious thoughts of suicide.”
“When I heard these statistics, that definitely grabbed my attention,” he said.
Symptoms of depression include a depressed mood, frequent tearfulness, a change in appetite (eating more or less than usual), a change in sleeping habits (either sleeping more or less), problems concentrating, social isolation, irritability, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, a decrease in sex drive and loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed.
A particularly serious symptom of depression is having thoughts of suicide. Sufferers of depression are at high risk for killing themselves.
Petiprin said anyone who is considering suicide should get “intensive help” immediately.
Statistics show men commit suicide much more often than women, because they tend to use more lethal means.
However, “in the general population, about two times as many women have depression as men,” Petiprin said.
That difference can be attributed to several factors, including the different biological composition of women and men, and the fact that women are more likely to seek treatment, Petiprin said.
Also, he said, men tend to externalize their feelings by getting angry while women tend to internalize their feelings and wind up feeling depressed or hopeless.
Two types of treatment options are available for depression: psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, and medication. These treatments are very effective, Petiprin said, adding that 80 percent of treated patients experience improvement.
ETSU students suffering from depression have resources on campus. The Counseling Center on the third floor of the D.P. Culp Center deals with problems such as anxiety, depression and relationship problems.
Personal counseling is available as well as psychiatric services. Petiprin said about one-third of students going to the Counseling Center suffer from depression.
He said the Counseling Center staff will be setting up an information booth within the next two weeks at the Center for Physical Activity that will focus on mental illness.
On Oct. 8, they will be doing depression screenings at the Center for Physical Activity and the D.P. Culp Center. Anonymous mental health screenings are also available online at www.etsu.edu/students/counsel/counsel/htm.
Petiprin said the Counseling Center staff will also talk with residence hall advisors and staff members about how to recognize symptoms of depression in students and give out pamphlets about how to make referrals.
Stress is a factor in depression and can even be a cause of depression, but several things can be done to alleviate it.
Petiprin said exercise and a healthy diet can go a long way toward lessening feelings of stress.
Also, having a good support system of family and friends is important.
Petiprin said it is especially important for men to be able to open up and talk about their feelings with supportive people because women tend to already be better at doing that.
Also important are keeping a positive frame of mind and putting problems in perspective. “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Petiprin said.
He said students should look at stressors in their lives-overloaded class or work schedules, for example-and take steps to help themselves limit the stress in their lives.
“Stress is largely dependant on circumstance,” Petiprin said.
“Don’t neglect yourself – find some time for you.

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