How to Deal Depression in Students? Causes, Symptoms and Cure

Suicide is the leading cause of death in the 15-29 age group, and mental illnesses like depression and anxiety are the major drivers. According to a global estimate, 75% of all lifetime cases of mental health issues begin before the age of 24. But in spite of these alarming statistics, mental health is still taken pretty casually around the world.

Mood disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, drug abuse, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and anxiety are just some among a myriad of mental health issues that students face on a daily basis. These issues can start in early childhood but are usually predominantly visible in young adolescents – not children and not adults either.

Adolescence is a difficult time; the metamorphosis a person goes through on a physical and mental level is toll taking and can often drive someone over the edge. Mental illness though, just any physical ailment, isn’t without symptoms. Identifying them and taking preventive measures at the right time can prevent many students from mental and physical torment.

Signs of Depression in Students

One of the first signs of depression you’ll notice is a lack of concentration. When students are depressed, it’s hard for them to think and focus properly and hence, they are less attentive in class – often lost in their own world.

Depressed children are also very irritable. A teacher would notice that such children react irritably and often violently to even the most minor offenses. They also have a very negative outlook towards everything. They can often be seen driving a positive conversation down a negative lane.

Another common sign of depression is that students often talk about death and other morbid topics. They even go so far as to discuss their own death scenario – sometimes seriously and sometimes as a joke. They also tend to indulge in suicide ideation, which means thinking of or planning for suicide. Many teachers have found notes and writing samples in which students planned their suicide.

Students that are depressed often put their heads down to sleep in class. Excessive sleeping and general boredom is one of the most common symptoms of depression. These students also don’t take interest in participating in group activities or classroom discussions.

Students with depression also have a tendency to forget things. They forget quizzes, tests, and homework assignments. Consequently, their grades suffer adding further fuel to the fire.

How to Deal Depression in Students?

Fighting depression has to begin by de-stigmatising the disease. Our society still doesn’t see mental illness as an actual disease and a lot of victim-blaming is involved – particularly because people are still pretty ignorant about this problem.

Schools and other educational institutions can help tackle this problem by organizing workshops and seminars to educate the parents on spotting the early signs of depression in their children.

There is also a need to reform the education system in such a way that students do not feel compelled to score sky-high grades in each and every subject. Getting good grades or high paying jobs should never be the goal of education. Rather, it should be to equip young students with the skillset that would make them responsible, contented and prosperous citizens.

Also, every school should include a professional counsellor in its staff so that if a student is struggling with some form of mental illness, it can be diagnosed and treated in its early stages, before it causes any serious complications.