College Life & Depression: You’re Not Alone
How common is depression in college students and young adults?
Depression is increasingly common among youth and college students. Studies show that about 20% of U.S. adolescents aged 12-17 experience at least one major depressive episode before reaching adulthood.
Noticing these signs early and seeking help is crucial for getting the right depression treatment for your loved ones.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression in College Students
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness:
Youth or teens with depression may seem unusually sad or withdrawn for a long time, with frequent crying and possibly suicidal ideation.
- Loss of interest in activities:
- Changes in sleep and appetite:
College students who are depressed may sleep either too much or too little, or show big changes in how much they eat.
- Difficulty concentrating:
College students may have trouble focusing at school or work and struggle to make decisions.
- Withdrawing from friends and family:
When College students, and young adults are depressed it often changes their relationships with friends, family, and other social circles.
- Increased anger and irritability:
If a college student is depressed, things may bother them more than usual, and you might see them express more frequent and sudden anger.
How can I help my severely depressed College Student with suicidal ideation?
Suicidal ideation is a serious side effect of severe depression, especially for college students. Unlike adults with depression who may isolate themselves, teens often keep up with friendships even when they’re depressed.
- Disengaging from social media
- Reckess behaviors
- Giving away possessions
- Talking or joking about suicide
- Saying goodbye to loved ones
- Writing about death or suicide
If you notice these signs in your youth or teen, get help immediately. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour support.
Depression treatment for College Students, and young adults
For College Students and young adults who need intensive, round-the-clock care, our residential treatment centers provide a safe and supportive environment for depression treatment. Young adults receive constant supervision and structured therapy to address severe depression.
These programs are designed for college students who need more support than traditional outpatient therapy but don’t require full-time residential care. IOP includes multiple therapy sessions per week and focuses on helping adolescents, teens, and young adults develop coping strategies and manage their depression effectively.
PHP provides more intensive care than outpatient programs but allows college students to return home in the evenings. This program offers intensive depression treatment during the day, including group therapy, individual counseling, and family sessions.
Depression, Suicide and College Students
Depression dramatically increases the risk of suicide. Suicide is a serious problem among all ages, but especially in young adults.
Suicide Warning Signs in young adults
Knowing the warning signs can prevent young adult suicide.
If your teen daughter or son expresses any of the following, get professional help immediately:
- Disengaging from social media profiles
- Engaging in reckless behaviors
- Giving away prized possessions
- Idealizing death
- Joking or talking about suicide
- Saying goodbye to family and friends
- Seeking out pills or weapons
- Writing poems or stories about death, dying, or suicide
For 24-hour suicide prevention and support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Treating Depression in College Students
The two most common forms of treatment for depression in young adults are antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can be done one-on-one or involve the family. Through regular psychotherapy sessions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy, teens can identify the causes of their depression, make changes in unhealthy behaviors, set realistic goals, regain a sense of happiness, and mitigate symptoms of depression.
There are two types of antidepressant medications approved for teen use by the FDA. Finding the right medication can take time, and some antidepressants may increase thoughts of suicide, so it is important to watch teens taking antidepressants carefully.
Residential treatment centers are a very effective treatment method for teens dealing with anxiety and depression. By removing the individual from their environment, counselors at residential treatment centers can identify and isolate potential triggers and work with students to manage these triggers and control their reactions to external influences.
How School Source Helps Teens Heal From Depression
School Source is a family of behavioral health programs across the United States that offers support to struggling teens and their families. While each program is unique, all are united by a passionate commitment to teenagers and young adults’ mental health, delivering innovative and high-quality mental health care from experienced mental health professionals.
At every program, we build trust by building relationships where students heal and thrive at their own pace. Committed to long-term success, School Source programs deliver lasting change in families’ lives, finding healing from mental health problems.