Problem Major depressive disorder (MDD), or depression, is one of the most common mental illnesses diagnosed in the human population each year. While depression may be a common disorder in many cultures, not many people are aware of its different types and more importantly how to help themselves or their others in the recovery process. This mood disorder is characterized by persistent and profound sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and feelings of worthlessness. There are in fact multiple types of depressive conditions each characterized by its own causes, courses, patterns outcomes, and specific types of treatment. The most common disorders include: bipolar disorder, depressive personality disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Of the …show more content…
Perkins estimates that twenty percent of the population of the United States will experience the disorder at some point in their given lives and that 19,000,000 Americans are suffering from the illness at any given time. As stated earlier, these individuals are often divorced persons, people without insurance, and those who are unable to work or find work. These conditions are very similar to that of college students - divorced persons (relationship problems) and the inability to work or find work (money problems). While the contributing factors are similar, the rates of disease for Americans are far greater than that of college students due to the uneven ratio of working adults to college students in the United …show more content…
Such resources could include campus personnel specializing in social and psychological counseling to support students feeling hopeless. This would give students a chance to share their emotions with counselors in a confidential environment. Communication opportunities offers a good solution to counter suicidal thoughts because they often result from one hiding thoughts to his or herself. Other factors such as loneliness could be decreased if campuses had more engagement opportunities with the entire community for students. An example would be an on campus stress-relief event during the week of midterms or finals where students could simply enjoy themselves by engaging in games and other proactive activities. Other solutions to the problem could be mandatory online suicide prevention programs as well as depression information sessions before admission to campus. Increased on-campus resources can help lower the depression rates of
Of the …show more content…
Perkins estimates that twenty percent of the population of the United States will experience the disorder at some point in their given lives and that 19,000,000 Americans are suffering from the illness at any given time. As stated earlier, these individuals are often divorced persons, people without insurance, and those who are unable to work or find work. These conditions are very similar to that of college students - divorced persons (relationship problems) and the inability to work or find work (money problems). While the contributing factors are similar, the rates of disease for Americans are far greater than that of college students due to the uneven ratio of working adults to college students in the United …show more content…
Such resources could include campus personnel specializing in social and psychological counseling to support students feeling hopeless. This would give students a chance to share their emotions with counselors in a confidential environment. Communication opportunities offers a good solution to counter suicidal thoughts because they often result from one hiding thoughts to his or herself. Other factors such as loneliness could be decreased if campuses had more engagement opportunities with the entire community for students. An example would be an on campus stress-relief event during the week of midterms or finals where students could simply enjoy themselves by engaging in games and other proactive activities. Other solutions to the problem could be mandatory online suicide prevention programs as well as depression information sessions before admission to campus. Increased on-campus resources can help lower the depression rates of