By Diana Riazi
The New York Times has recently reported that college freshmen have disclosed increased feelings of depression over the last five years. Fordham students are likely to be susceptible to the rise in depression among freshmen as well. These feelings can be attributed to several variables, especially the stresses that arise from the structure of society. Stresses can range from financial, parental, peer and self-induced pressures.
Depression can arise from a unique blend of stressors. However, these stresses can continue throughout and beyond one’s freshman year. So, what makes the depression that arises during freshman year so distinctive?
For me, the first year of college was a huge adjustment on many different levels, most notably a significant psychological adjustment. Challenges specific to the first year of college include a new lifestyle, new friends and a new environment. It is a transition in multiple dimensions.
However, this reported increase suggests that something more than typical freshman-year difficulties is the culprit. It seems to me that this recent increase in depression that is present among students arises from the cultural shift in the way a college education is viewed.
Beginning during one’s senior year of high school, students feel the need to differentiate themselves, so they may appeal to prestigious universities to which they plan to apply. Thus, it is no surprise that students feel more anxious and depressed.
Indeed, Fordham is consistent with this trend of an increase in reported depression. “I think that all college students today struggle more with depression due to in the increased financial and academic pressure,” said Caroline Kirk, FCRH ’18.
“I’m not surprised,” said Dr. Jefferey Ng, clinical psychiatrist and director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) here at Fordham University. “We have seen a moderate rise in reported depression here at Fordham as well as at other colleges and universities.”
Truly, times used to be simpler. This generation’s students, myself included, feel the need to spend every spare moment they have on schoolwork and spend less time interacting with friends and doing things they enjoy. Students have reported studying more and socializing less in comparison with generations of students before.
These feelings and actions are rooted in the apparent fact that the competition to get into prestigious colleges and get good jobs is growing fiercer, which contributes to a shift in our society. The emergence of this structure allows for anxiety to be the norm for the youth today.
This rise in depression has been reported as “a public health issue,” by Dr. Anthony L. Postain, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania task force in students’ emotional health. “We’re expecting more of students: There’s a sense of having to compete in a global economy, and they think they have to be on top of their game all the time. It’s no wonder why they feel overwhelmed,” as the New York Times reported.
It is also crucial to account for the role social media plays in the rise of feelings of depression. Profiles and posts show a misleading portrayal of the enjoyment of life, contributing to a false sense of happiness. Students are more likely to post in times of happiness rather than in times of anxiety, thus masking the anxiety and perhaps depression present in students’ lives by operating under the illusion of stability. This relationship with social media can exacerbate the constant pressure for the youth to be consistently “perfect.”
I suggest that the best way to alleviate these feelings of depression is simply to take time for self-care. Dr. Ng advises, “sleeping well, eating well, exercising, playing and spending time with friends are all important for our mental and emotional health and wellness. In fact, taking care of ourselves actually facilitates our performance and success in the long run.”
If a student is experiencing any overwhelming amount of anxiety, depression or any other emotional or psychological distress, it is very much worth noting that CPS provides free and confidential counseling services. CPS also offers a newsletter each semester that holds useful information regarding how to deal with the anxiety that college life may bring about.
The anxiety that college students experience seems to be intensifying.
By accounting for this cultural shift, students can avoid being swallowed by depression that may arise as a result of competing on a global scale for success.
