Depression can affect anyone, but it’s prevalent in young people—especially due to the stressful demands of modern life.
In this feature post, we explain the various approaches teachers and employers can take to tackle the UK’s current mental health crisis.
But we also encourage students to reach out to improve their situation with useful insights and guidance.
And that starts with an understanding of what causes depressive issues.
It can come about due to family difficulties, bullying, emotional distress, or due to family history.
But it’s also caused by outside sources, such as depressing news stories, or stress of joining the workforce and even the overuse of social media. Research now suggests the more teens use the likes of Instagram, the more likely they are to be depressed.
It’s a very serious issue and one that can have a major impact on millions of lives.
And the worst thing anyone can do is sit back and accept the situation, rather than taking steps towards good mental health.
But how can you tell if students at your university are suffering from depression? And what can you do to help? Especially considering young people’s mental health is thought to be “worsening”.
NHS figures from summer 2018 showed that 400,000 young people aged under 18 were in contact with a health service about their mental health problems.
For students reading this, you can ask your university if they have access to a wellbeing provider. But you can start the process yourself by understanding what it is.
Whilst it’s common for everyone to feel “low” from time to time, long-term depression isn’t simply about feeling a bit unhappy.
Nor is it about needing to “snap out of it”.
Depression manifests typically as a feeling of despondency, which can lead to changes in personality.
In severe forms, it can lead to suicidal thoughts and several affect a young person’s quality of life.
Anxiety can be another aspect of a protracted period of depression. And both could suggest other mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder.
There are three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. But there are four types of depressive disorders. These are:
It can be difficult to spot depressive signals amongst students—many people are unwilling to open up about their struggles (in part due to social stigma and embarrassment, or the desire to shoulder the burden themselves).
If you’re a student concerned about your mental health, here are some of the signs of severe depression:
If you’re suffering from these, you should seek immediate help.
Teachers can also help by remaining vigilant—keep an eye on your students for any tell-tale signs of depression.
The tragic thing is individuals often appear perfectly happy, but may be struggling with depressive issues. There are signs of this to look out for:
And to support students, there are a number of ways to offer guidance. Some of the best techniques are:
If there’s an open discussion in educational institutions, it can encourage individuals to reach out for the help they need—and deserve.
The first step really is making that initial move to challenge the issue. Once a student has come forward, there’s the chance to direct them towards a professional and turn their issues around.
Finally, if you’re struggling with mental health issues you can contact Mind: For better mental health immediately.
Or talk to friends and family, or a teacher, to discuss your problems with depression.
Ultimately, don’t be afraid to reach out. There are expert help minutes away and it can be the turning point in your life.
Image by Sasin Tipchai via Pixabay
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