Counseling Services

Helping Students

The Depressed Student

Depressed students show a multitude of symptoms: guilt, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and inadequacy as well as physical symptoms such as decreased or increased appetite, difficulty staying asleep, early awakening, low interest in daily activities. They usually show low activity levels because everything is an effort and they have little energy.

Do:

• Let student know you’re aware he/she is feeling down and you would like to help.
• Reach out more than halfway and encourage the student to express how she/he is feeling for he/she is often initially reluctant to talk, yet others’ attention helps the student feel more worthwhile.
• Refer the student to Counseling Services.

Don't:

• Minimize the student’s feelings (e.g. “Don’t worry” or “Everything will be better tomorrow.”)
• Be afraid to ask whether the student is thinking of harming themselves or suicidal if you think they might be.