Helping Distressed or Distressing Students

University Counseling Center (UCC)

The Depressed Student

Depression, and the variety of ways it manifests itself, is part of a natural emotional and physical response to life's ups and downs. With the busy and demanding life of a college student, it is safe to assume that most students will experience periods of reactive depression during their college careers. It is when the depressive symptoms become so extreme or are so enduring that they begin to interfere with the student's ability to function in school, work, or social environments, that the student will come to your attention and be in need of assistance.

Due to the opportunities that faculty and staff have to observe and interact with students, you are often the first to recognize that a student is in distress. Look for a pattern of these indicators:

Tearfulness/general emotionality or a marked lack of emotion

Dependency (a student who makes excessive requests for your time)

Markedly diminished performance

Lack of energy/motivation

Infrequent or sporadic class attendance

Increased anxiety/test anxiety/performance anxiety

Irritability

Deterioration in personal hygiene

Alcohol or drug use

Students experiencing depression often respond well to a small amount of attention for a short period of time. Early intervention increases the chances of the student's rapid return to optimal performance.

DO:

Let the student know you've noticed that s/he appears to be feeling down and you would like to help

Reach out and encourage the student to discuss how s/he is feeling

Offer options to further investigate and manage the symptoms of depression (e.g. referral to UCC)

Listen for suicidal thoughts or intentions

If concerned, ask.

DON'T:

Minimize the student's feelings, e.g. "Don't worry. Everything will be better tomorrow."

Bombard the student with "fix it" solutions or advice

Chastise the student for poor or incomplete work

Be afraid to ask whether the student is suicidal if you suspect s/he may be (e.g. "Have you had thoughts of harming yourself?" See page entitled "The Suicidal Student" for further information.)

Also don't assume they are suicidal.