69 68 Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Chapter Five: Supporting Students with Mental Health Difficulties Depression Clinical depression is one of the most common health problems for university students. It is different from occasionally feeling down, which usually diminish with time. Students with clinical depression often experience the feeling of extreme sadness or despair, which last for at least two weeks or longer. Some students with depression may not feel sad at all, but be more irritable, or lose interest in activities that are previously considered pleasurable. The symptoms of depression can interfere with students’ daily life and normal functions in different domains, such as school, work, and interpersonal relationships. They often have difficulties in making minor decisions and in doing simple day-to-day activities such as getting out of the bed, attending classes, working on assignments and returning phone calls or messages. The treatment outcomes for clinical depression are promising with early and appropriate interventions. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Persistent low mood • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day • Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness almost every day • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day • Social withdrawal • Loss of appetite or eating too much • Problems falling asleep, maintaining asleep or sleeping too much • Physical discomfort, such as aches, pains, headaches or digestive problems • Impaired concentration, indecisiveness • Recurrent thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts “Students with clinical depression often experience the feeling of extreme sadness or despair, which last for at least two weeks or longer.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=