Midterms are in full-swing, the days are getting shorter, and winter break is still nine weeks away. College students have plenty of reasons to be depressed - and according to many recent studies, there has been a steady and significant increase in depression on college campuses throughout the nation.
According to an American College Health Association study released last year, the number of college students nationwide who have been diagnosed with depression rose from 10.3 to 14.9 percent between 2000 and 2004. Forty percent of those diagnosed have been prescribed some form of anti-depressant medication.
A separate study, published in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice in 2005, showed that the number of diagnosed college students doubled between 1989 and 2001.
Students noted that personal experience with depression can vary widely. Sophomore Lauren (names have been changed) noted the difference between shorter spells and actual clinical depression. "I feel like a lot of people may have depressive episodes or bouts," she said.
The National Institute of Mental Health defines depressive disorders as "an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts" on its Web site, saying that a depressive disorder "affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things."
Sarah, a junior who has suffered from depressive episodes related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, said that it is important for doctors to distinguish the real medical problems from normal changes in mood and behavior.
"My personal belief is that statistics like [those in the aforementioned studies] are misleading or inflated," she said. "Maybe I'm just being narrow-minded, but I think a lot of people with angst or normal stress are being misdiagnosed as depressed, much like healthy active energetic children are being misdiagnosed with ADHD."
For diagnosis or help with depression, students can go to Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Service, located on 120 Curtis Street.
Last year, over 900 students, or about 15 percent of the entire student population, sought help from Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS), according to its Web site. The site lists "leaving home, choosing majors, negotiating intimate relationships ... depression, anxiety, eating concerns, self esteem issues, sexuality, [and] family illnesses" as some common reasons students seek counseling.
According to Susan Mahoney, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Tufts Health Services who is part of the prescribing staff of Counseling and Mental Health Service, Tufts offers a number of resources to students facing mental or emotional health questions, including depression.
"Any Tufts student can make an appointment or drop-in [in case of urgency] and they will meet with a counselor to help figure out what the concern is and decide what steps to take to help the person," Mahoney said. "Most often people come with concerns about themselves, but also perhaps with concerns about a roommate or a friend, and they too can get some advice."
Depending on the case, the process may involve an evaluation for psychiatric medication, prescribed through Health Services.
Sophomore Amanda dealt with her depression by going to CMHS. She said that her own experience led her to believe that many students are reluctant to seek help, which could lead to skewed statistics.
"I would have hesitations about seeking therapy, and I know a lot of people who feel the same way," Amanda said. "I don't think that everyone at Tufts is a suicidal alcoholic, but we all have our coping methods, and most of those don't include seeing a counselor."
"Before I made an appointment at the Counseling Center, I didn't have any idea where it was. I think everyone knows it's there, but it's not really advertised, so I don't think many people have a clear idea of what it does," Amanda said.
"However, they were apparently booked solid last week, so I think plenty of Tufts students do use it," she added.
Students had mixed reactions to the CMHS process. For Sarah, CMHS was an important aid in coping with her depression as she struggled to overcome her disorder.
"I just started going to regular counseling at the end of last year and it has been immensely helpful," she said. "I put it off for a long time ... but after I finally did it I was kicking myself for not having gone earlier."
However, while she was thankful, Sarah disagreed with the CMHS policy of usually limiting on-campus treatment to eight to 10 sessions. While it provides a short-term solution, she said, it can cause difficulties for students with recurring problems.
"I'm not sure what can be done about it, but that makes it a lot harder to have a regular therapist or resource on hand," Sarah said.
Mahoney explained that that the eight-to-10-session policy was implemented so that CMHS could use its limited resources to continue to meet the needs of the rest of the Tufts community. If it is clear that after eight sessions that a student is seeking more involved therapy, CMHS usually recommends a convenient and trusted source in the local area.
Not everyone has had an experience as positive as Sarah's and Amanda's however. Lauren said she ran into difficulties when she sought help from CMHS counselors.
"Last year when I tried to get counseling, I had to talk to many different people about my problems, which was very impersonal and made me feel very uncomfortable," Lauren said. "I was also given misinformation and ended up talking to the completely wrong person for my needs."
According to Lauren, the experience would have been unhelpful were it not for her own knowledge of the issues she was facing.
"I was lucky enough to already be aware of what I needed in order to combat my depression, but I think I would have been in a very bad state if that had not been the case," she said.
Mahoney encouraged students unsatisfied with the level or availability of care to give their input in order prevent negative experiences such as Lauren's from happening again. She said Dr. Julie Ross, the Director of CMHS, is interested in hearing any concerns.
Ross agreed that feedback is important. "The Tufts University Counseling and Mental Health Service welcomes input from students addressing their experience with our service, and/or any suggestions students might have pertaining to mental health programming or services on campus," Ross wrote in an e-mail.
She encouraged students to provide feedback through the CMHS Web site, suggestion boxes at Health Services, or through participation in the Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) or Graduate Student Health Advisory Board (GSHAB).
"I would also like to add that, as the new Director of Counseling and Mental Health here at Tufts, I find it heartening that mental health issues on campus are being addressed openly, and am hopeful that these conversations will continue to decrease stigma and increase responsiveness to the very real mental health needs of our students," she said.
Amanda said she thinks CMHS does a good job addressing problems students have. According to her, successful treatment requires initiative on the part of the student, which often includes overcoming the stigma of seeking treatment.
"I don't think Tufts is slacking off in the mental health arena, but I do think that there's really only so much an institution can do," she said. "They definitely make help available if you're willing to get it."
