College Depression is Normal 

Depression is a social epidemic that is affecting many people in their everyday lives. This mental illness can be very draining for a person suffering with it. Many times, people try and suffer through depression alone. However, there are many resources for college students who are struggling with depression. College students have a higher rate of depression than anyone else. A study on China students in college revealed that students have “an incidence rate of between 15% and 35%” (Shi 1). There are several reasons college students have the highest rate of depression, but there are also many solutions to solve this social epidemic. 

The first solution to solving depression in college students is religious coping. This is not a solution for all students, but it is a solution for students who have a religious worldview. Students who use religious coping have “better emotional well-being such as higher rates of reported happiness and hope in a variety of populations” (Klausli 182). Keeping up with religion while being away from home helps because it is something familiar in a not so familiar place. Having something that is a reminder of home makes unfamiliar places less scary. For example, A kid brings a specific blanket to a sleepover because she feels more comfortable with it than without it. The same thing goes for religious coping; knowing God is there makes students less anxious about being in a new place with new people. Although, religious coping can have negative results as well. Negative religious coping is when “religious/spiritual expressions ... reflect a religious/spiritual system in tension and turmoil” (182). For students experiencing negative effects from religious coping, it will cause their relationship with God to struggle. For students experiencing positive effects from religious coping, it will cause their relationship with God to grow firmer. There are other solutions for college students that are experiencing depression if religious coping is not for them. 

Talking to a counselor is another solution to coping with college depression. All college campuses have counselors the students can talk to. College can be incredibly stressful; it is a new place, with new people, and new schedules. Colleges know that no student can fully prepare for the level of stress it brings to them. This is why schools provide resources for students, such as counselors. While “some source of stress is necessary for personal growth to occur, the amount of stress can overwhelm a student and affect the ability to cope” (Kumaraswamy 136). Counseling is one way to cope with the stress of college before it gets worse. Talking to someone can save lives. Depression will continue to get worse the longer someone holds it in and tries to fight it themself. However, students will argue that they do not want to talk to a stranger about their life. If that is the case, students can talk to someone they trust. 

Students may need someone familiar who will show them social support. Social support is “the perception of the presence and availability of people who we believe care about us, offer love, and can be relied upon” (Klausli 181). It is important for counselors to show social support so students know that they can trust their counselors. Sometimes students do not feel social support from a counselor, but they do feel it from a loved one. Support from family members is “the most important source of support” (Newhart 261). Family support is especially important because many students want to make their families proud. If students do not feel support from their family during the transition from high school to college, it will cause more stress. Stress causes a higher chance of depression in students. Students need to know their family is there for them. Students can talk to family members about college stress if it feels more comfortable talking to family. The loved one can then refer the student to a counselor when the student is comfortable talking about their feelings. 

If the counselor feels that the student needs to talk to someone with more expertise, the counselor can send the student to a therapist or psychologist. These specialists are more qualified to help students cope with college depression. Depression can cause “changes in sleep patterns and appetite, psychomotor concentration, anhedonia, fatigue, hopelessness, helplessness, and suicide” (Musabiq 54). This is why it is so important for students to get help. Struggling with depression alone is dangerous. If it gets to a certain point, a therapist may suggest medication. Medication is prescribed for more serious forms of depression.  

Finding time to take breaks is another way to reduce college depression. When many students go to college, they struggle to find a balance between school and their personal life. Knowing how to balance school and life would reduce college depression rates. Kumaraswamy states that “problems with studying and grades frequently trigger depression” (139). Students need to include study breaks in between work sessions for college. Their brain is working extremely hard trying to keep up. Students also need to make sure they are sleeping and eating. The brain also needs fuel and rest in order to work correctly. Many schools teach this from an early age. The day before a test, teachers always say get a lot of sleep and eat a good breakfast; this is why. Teachers also give some breaks during the ACT for this same reason. Teachers do not want the students' brains trying to work overtime. In the end, this is only going to have a negative effect on students' scores. Studying is harder on the students if they do not take care of themselves. Getting bad grades tends to stress students out more; bad grades mean more studying. Thus, the cycle will just continue to repeat itself. Maintaining and taking care of their mental and physical health will help college students prevent depression.  

Depression in college students is continuing to rise. In fact, college students “psychiatric medicines increased more than 10 percentage points over the last 10 years” (Kumaraswamy 140). However, with help from a trained professional, family support, and personal care, this social epidemic can be solved. These solutions will have a positive result on students. By reducing stress, depression can be stopped.