Beating the Vanderblues
Why are so many students depressed, and what can be done about it?
Ella Wilhoit
Issue date: 12/8/06 Section: News/Features
You may have read The Hustler's November coverage, including one front-page article, of a rise in the number of students seeking help for emotional issues. Their pieces originally appeared to lack some basic skepticism; they essentially claimed that rising numbers were a clear-cut sign of increased prevalence of depression and anxiety - not an indication of acceptance regarding the use of therapy and counseling services, or perhaps an increase in their accessibility. The task force being created to address the problem seemed a bit reactionary, and it appeared that there might be factors contributing to the higher rates of visits to the counseling center besides just more depression. However, national trends indicate that The Hustler, "depressingly," may be onto something.
Most upperclassmen probably remember the tragic suicide of a former Vanderbilt student last year. Police on the scene were unable to prevent a dental school student from jumping from the 11th floor of the 24th Avenue parking garage. According to Dr. Daniel Sullivan of Vanderbilt's Psychological and Counseling Center, this is the only suicide to occur on campus within the last five years. Disturbingly, however, within that last half decade, suicide has replaced homicide as the No. 2 cause of death nationally among 18- to 24-year-olds. (No. 1 is unintentional accident.) Among 30- to 40-year-olds, suicide ranks 11th. So why the huge disparity? Why are young people, including college students, killing themselves?
Suicide is just one (rather obvious) symptom of a recent increase in reported cases of depression among people in our age group. According to various news sources, between 40 and 60 percent of college students admit to having experienced extreme depression during their undergraduate years - depression that actually precluded their functioning as students and members of society. In other words, approximately one out of every two people you know is, has, or will be so depressed at some point that they will not be able to perform everyday activities. This statistic conjures up the quote by first-century philosopher Philo of Alexandria, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." At least in the college environment, this would seem to hold true. The Vanderbilt Psychological Health and Wellness Center reports that 10 percent of college students in the U.S. will consider suicide in a given year, and approximately 1,100 will actually kill themselves. To stop the growing trend of depression and suicide, it seems necessary to determine their causes. Why exactly are young people fighting such intense and unique emotional battles, when depression statistics are not rising in other age groups and populations?
Most upperclassmen probably remember the tragic suicide of a former Vanderbilt student last year. Police on the scene were unable to prevent a dental school student from jumping from the 11th floor of the 24th Avenue parking garage. According to Dr. Daniel Sullivan of Vanderbilt's Psychological and Counseling Center, this is the only suicide to occur on campus within the last five years. Disturbingly, however, within that last half decade, suicide has replaced homicide as the No. 2 cause of death nationally among 18- to 24-year-olds. (No. 1 is unintentional accident.) Among 30- to 40-year-olds, suicide ranks 11th. So why the huge disparity? Why are young people, including college students, killing themselves?
Suicide is just one (rather obvious) symptom of a recent increase in reported cases of depression among people in our age group. According to various news sources, between 40 and 60 percent of college students admit to having experienced extreme depression during their undergraduate years - depression that actually precluded their functioning as students and members of society. In other words, approximately one out of every two people you know is, has, or will be so depressed at some point that they will not be able to perform everyday activities. This statistic conjures up the quote by first-century philosopher Philo of Alexandria, "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." At least in the college environment, this would seem to hold true. The Vanderbilt Psychological Health and Wellness Center reports that 10 percent of college students in the U.S. will consider suicide in a given year, and approximately 1,100 will actually kill themselves. To stop the growing trend of depression and suicide, it seems necessary to determine their causes. Why exactly are young people fighting such intense and unique emotional battles, when depression statistics are not rising in other age groups and populations?
Be the first to comment on this story