College Students
and Depression
Counseling Center
Department of Student Affairs
Library Bldg., Room 422 • (718) 631-6370
www.qcc.cuny.edu/counseling
A Guide for Queensborough Students
Counseling Center • Department of Student Affairs
Library Building, Room 422
718.631.6370
www.qcc.cuny.edu/counseling
Dr. Diane B. Call, President
222-05 56th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11364
www.qcc.cuny.edu
04/2015
524/15
Counseling Center at Queensborough
These statements and life events are frequently
expressed and experienced among college students
and have profound effects on their lives. Depression is
commonly felt by students attending college and has
many causes. In what follows, students will be able to
find out what is meant by depression and, if they are
depressed, what to do about it.
“Someone I loved very much has died”
“I failed my test.”
College Students and Depression
Counseling Center
Library Bldg., Room 422
Office: (718) 631-6370
www.qcc.cuny.edu/counseling
Hours:
Mondays & Thursdays, 8:45am-6pm
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 8:45am-7pm
Fridays, 8:45am-5pm
Note: Office hours may change during winter and
summer sessions.
“My boyfriend/girlfriend broke up with me”
“I lost my job and financial aid”
“My parents are splitting up”
“I feel lost and don’t know
what to do with my life”
“I don’t have a good relationship with
my mother/father/sister/brother”
Department of Student Affairs
Counseling Center at Queensborough
College Students and Depression
What Next?
What is Depression?
If you score high on the depression checklist or if you feel just plain “down”, give
us a call at 718-631-6370. Counselors are here to help all students. We want you
to succeed in college and in your lives. Since there are many ways to alleviate
depression, counselors may offer a wide range of options, including counseling at
the college or referring to an outside practitioner or clinic.
MOST PEOPLE CAN FEEL SAD from time to time depending on the stress and
tension in their lives. The loss of a loved one causes universal feelings of
sadness and grief. That reaction is normal, and with the support of friends and
family the sense of loss diminishes and the person will begin to feel less sad as
time goes by. Depression is different. People who are depressed may:
Counselors want to help you, the student, cope with issues that are troubling you.
Give us a chance to assist you. Remember you don’t have to go through a difficult
time all by yourself.
• Find little pleasure in life.
• Have little interest in activities they usually enjoy such as involvement in
sports, dating and even eating.
• Not want to get out of bed and go to work or school.
• Feel anxious, sad, and may even think about suicide.
•Feel unattractive and isolate themselves.
• Have hormonal reactions associated with pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
disorder.
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION may be on a continuum from mild to moderate
to severe. These symptoms may vary from person to person, however one
important factor is the persistence of the symptoms over time. Some signs to
watch out for are:
• Feelings of guilt or remorse, particularly when losing a loved one.
•Loss of self-esteem, especially after failing a test or a course (e.g., not
getting into the nursing program or not getting into graduate school).
•Feeling empty, isolated and alone (e.g. not having friends, beginning
college and not knowing anyone).
•An inability to enjoy oneself because of being overwhelmed by college
assignments, work and family responsibilities.
•Feelings of hopelessness, wanting to give up or wanting to die.
•Not getting admitted to a four year college of choice.
•Wanting to get high or drinking to forget, numb or avoid the issue.
Sometimes depression and substance abuse can be a lethal combination.
People self-medicate to feel better and may end up feeling worse.
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Counseling Center at Queensborough
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM DepressED?
All of us go through periods of being sad. We can feel depressed when we get
a bad grade or fail an exam. We can feel very sad when we get bad news such
as a close relative dying. The difference between normal sadness and long term
depression is that, when you are depressed, the feeling of sadness continues
for a very long time.
College Students and Depression
HOW to help yourself if you are
DepressED?
Queensborough Community College’s Counseling
Center offers free services to those suffering from
depression. Outside referrals can also be made if this
is preferred 2. In addition:
To get an idea if you are experiencing depression for which you should get
help, fill in the boxes on the following checklist. If you experience five or more
of these symptoms for longer than two weeks or if the symptoms are severe
enough to interfere with your daily routine, you should see a counselor in the
Counseling Center, Library Building, Room 422 or call 718-631-6370 to make
an appointment.
•Set realistic goals in light of the depression.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on too much.
Depression Checklist
Here is a checklist of ten symptoms of clinical depression 1:
•Participate in activities that may make you feel better. Distraction can
ameliorate symptoms of depression.
 A persistently sad, anxious or “empty” mood
 Sleeping too little or sleeping too much
 Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
 Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
 Restlessness or irritability
 Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to treatment (such as
headaches, chronic pain, or constipation, other digestive disorders)
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
 Fatigue or loss of energy
 Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
 Thoughts of death or suicide
•Break down large tasks into small ones, and set
priorities.
•Although there is a strong tendency to isolate oneself when feeling
depressed, it is important to be with other people.
•Engaging in some type of consistent exercise can alter brain chemistry and
lift you out of depression.
•Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately. Feeling better takes
time.
•It is advisable to postpone making important decisions until the depression
has lifted because you will be able to think more objectively.
2 National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml?ct=39994#pub3
Other Helpful Resources:
Lifenet
(800) LIFENET or (800) 543-3638
Suicide Prevention Hotline
(800) 273-8255
1 National Mental Health Association
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