Students urged to seek help for depression

MANY students now believe it is common for young people to feel depressed, but few feel confident enough to deal with someone close who has the condition, new research shows.

The study also found that about eight out of 10 students believe there is a social stigma attached to depression and 65% believe that depression is not well understood.

The findings coincided with the launch of a new national education campaign to provide support to about one in 13 students in Ireland affected by depression.

While 82% of students aged 15 to 24 believe it is important that depression should be discussed openly, only 27% felt they would know what to do if someone close to them had depression.

The research by pharmaceutical company, Lundbeck, also found that 78% of students believe that depression can have a negative impact on a person’s life and 74% felt that depression can impact on a person’s ability to cope with everyday situations.

Head of student health services at University College Cork Dr Michael Byrne said the campaign encouraged students to be aware of the signs of symptoms of depression, not just for their themselves, but for the friends too.

Dr Byrne warned that depression could be harder to treat and overcome the longer it went unnoticed.

He explained that signs of depression ranged from sudden changes in behaviour, such as neglecting personal hygiene, being moody or withdrawn or skipping lectures to more serious indicators such as excessive binge drinking, drug use or self harm.

“Depression is not just a passing mood that can be willed away and seeking help is the first step towards recovery.”

He urged any student feeling depressed to consult their GP and avail of the services offered in their college that can include student health centres, welfare officers and counselling.

A Mind Yourselves leaflet offering advice is available in student health centres nationwide.

It advises students with friends who are depressed to waste no time in getting help for them, either through contact with local college services, a doctor or a helpline.

“Listen to what your friend has to say; don’t judge or try to fix it. Eventually, with the right help, which can include therapy and medicines, your friend should overcome their depression,” it states.

In Ireland about 400,000 people suffer from depression at any one time.

Samaritans: 1850 609090.