Real Student Stories

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Picture of Anna Tasha had noticed a regular pattern of mood swings during her teens, but was only recently diagnosed officially with bipolar disorder. She has learnt self-help strategies to supplement medication... more > >

Also in "Depression In Context"...

"It's a big change being in a new place again, and doing a difficult degree. It's stressful not having much money." Mike

"I guess I went through that sort of university-age crisis that lots of people go through when you don't know where you're going to go; you're not sure what kind of life you want to have; you don't know if you're doing the right thing." Kristy

Students Against Depression
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Common Student Issues

Transitions and changes

Becoming a student, whatever your age or background, involves the psychological and practical challenges posed by some or all of the following transitions:

Adolescence → Adulthood
Family home → Student accommodation
Working identity → Mature-student identity
Certainty & familiarity → Unknown territory
Home country/language → New culture/language
Relative financial security → Debt and financial strain
Familiar friends → New social environment and people

Culture shock

It is well known that any such transition or change, however positive, entails a certain amount of stress. Indeed, for some students – especially international students – these changes can add up to what is known as 'culture shock'. This means the disorienting effect of suddenly having to negotiate the world without many of the familiar cues, symbols, customs, values or even language. This can be exciting, but also profoundly stressful and anxiety-provoking.

Stress points

Particular stress points occur at the beginnings and ends of academic years, especially starting first year and finishing final year. These times of increased stress can represent a tipping point when coping resources can become overwhelmed - a recent study* found that student suicides more commonly occur at these times.

Ways in for depression

The pages in this section look at some of the common issues and challenges in student life. Stresses arising from any or several of these issues may contribute to the establishment of a depression habit spiral. Student counselling services have a lot of experience helping students deal with these issues – tips for ways forward are provided via links to info sheets produced by a variety of student counselling services:

Go to:

Leaving Home & Family >>

Links:

Check page references (*): references and sources

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