One in 13 students hit by clinical depression
One in 13 students suffer from clinical depression, the Union of Students in Ireland said today as it marked World Mental Health Day.
Living away from home, mixing in new social circles and the demands of college work are among the challenges that many students struggle to cope with.
The Union is now joining forces with the Samaritans and Lundbeck Ireland to launch its second annual mental health education campaign.
Aimed at students, the Mind Yourselves leaflet encourages positive mental health.
“We encourage any student who is feeling depressed to avail of the support structures, including student health centres, welfare officers and counselling,” said USI welfare officer Kelly Mackey.
“Ways of achieving positive mental health include opening up and sharing feelings, becoming involved in college activity outside your course, and dropping the internal negative commentary.
“If you’re feeling down for two weeks or more, you may have symptoms of depression and it could be time to seek advice. Depression isn’t just a passing mood that can be willed away – seeking help is the first step towards recovery.”
A Mind Yourselves survey, carried out on 15 to 24-year-olds last year, found 66% believe depression is difficult to discuss, 55% of students would try to sort out their depression alone and 35% of students would try to ignore the condition.
If afflicted by depression, 11% of male students and 7% of female students would try to cope by taking drink and drugs.
Lisa Wade from Samaritans said the first step on the road to recovery is admitting the need for help.
“It often requires a great deal of courage for people to admit they need help, and more so to reach out for it,” she said.
“Samaritans is available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair and may be an option for a person who wants to talk to someone outside of college.”
Latest figures from the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention recorded 432 suicide deaths last year, with men under the age of 35 accounting for 40% of all suicides.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said the speedy and effective implementation of the regional suicide prevention strategy in the north and a co-ordinated all-Ireland approach to this issue is urgent.
“Suicide across the island has become the biggest killer of our young people,” he said.
“In the last decade the incidence of suicide in Ireland has increased by more than 25%. We know that for every life lost many more people are affected.
“That is why Sinn Féin is campaigning for suicide prevention strategies north and south to be integrated on an all-island basis.”
For help or support contact Samaritans call 1850 609090 or email jo@samaritans.org
