The Eagle Eye

Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: News

College depression is the second leading cause of death among college students.

While in college, students can pick two options from the following list of three: a social life, good grades, and enough sleep. However, most will choose to have all three, at a dangerous cost. The sacrifices made in order to juggle friends, family, homework, clubs, classes, sports, and various other things, can lead to a very tired student, or even worse-depression.

Within the last week, the sons of two celebrities took their own lives in struggles related to depression. Star Trek's Walter Koenig's son, Andrew Koenig, 41, had a reoccurring role on the hit 80's TV show Growing Pains, and Michael Blosil, 18, was the son of Marie Osmond.

Depression is a term that is incredibly looked down upon in society, but is actually a very common problem in America. Depression comes in different levels of severity, from "a little bummed" to "utterly helpless."

Mild depression, like the "winter blues," is experienced by almost everyone during this time of year. Sometimes people are likely to sign off a more serious case of depression and blame the weather.

College age students ages 18-24 are statistically more likely to suffer depression for two main reasons.

First is the lifestyle of a college student. Typically, the average bedtime ranges from 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. The earliest classes begin at 8 a.m. and not everyone is so fortunate as to opt out of those and begin later. However, the average female takes around an hour to an hour and a half to get ready in the morning. So, should said girl go to bed at 2 a.m., and wake up at 6:30 a.m. for her first class, this leaves her with 4 and a half hours of sleep, which is just above half of the recommended amount of sleep for a college student.

Students' days are long, peppered with classes, meetings, occasionally on-campus jobs, and extra-curricular activities. The average student runs essentially non-stop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. or later. Let's not forget that there is homework or partying to be done, bringing the situation full-circle, yet again, to another 2 a.m. bedtime.

But, even with crazy days, the socializing that is along with it (i.e. the pressures from professors or peers) can also contribute to depression.

It has been scientifically proven that the human brain is not completely formed until the age of 25. This means that at college age, the brain is still in an immature state. Such immaturity leads to narcissism, or self-centeredness, and a heightened dramatic response to everyday things.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools