There’s no two ways about it, university can be a very lonely place at times. There are days when revision is sewn between endless essay writing and the sunlight (most likely rain) doesn’t hit your face for days. Yes, almost everybody goes through that at some point during university. But for some, being lonely and tucked away from the world becomes a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month existence.
Mental health is a subject strewn with eggshells to walk carefully upon. For anyone who has not been through it, it’s hard to spot when someone is suffering from depression and even harder to comprehend it. Echoes of friend’s voices exclaiming how you never seem depressed are met with a sinking feeling of being unnoticed and uncared for by those closest to you. The problem is, however, that those suffering from depression are accomplished at hiding the signs, which often means that even those they live with may fail to notice any symptoms.
Stress, which is rife throughout the university experience, is often a contributing factor in elements of depression. Although higher education is renowned for specific pressure pockets of stress, around exam and deadline time, it is also important to look at the day-to-day stresses of many students in order to reach the root of many problems. When most students come to university they are bright eyed, bushy tailed and fresh out of school/college or have just flown in on the back of a mongoose after a gap year. Either way, university is a new challenge. It is a true test of coping with transition and self-discipline and, to be perfectly honest, that in itself can be a fairly daunting prospect. The immense amount of pressure felt by students to mould themselves into people worthy to take on the adult world is extremely high, and although Cardiff University offer schemes and programmes designed to ease this pressure, its efforts are often ignored or deemed too daunting by the student body at large.
As outlined by the mental health charity Mind, symptoms of depression can include; a lack of interest in hobbies, feelings of worthlessness, problems with sleeping and eating and a lack of motivation. Most people who find themselves suffering from depression often find that talking with someone about how they feel helps; however, it is not uncommon for an individual suffering from depression to want to conceal their illness or refuse to accept help. For those who wish to seek out someone to talk to, the University run a counselling service which is free for students and offers both one-on-one and group services. Alternatively, seeking out a friend or family member in whom you have trust can be just as comforting as any form of professional help.
There are also plenty of online resources which offer self-help and useful advice such as the BBCs www.onelife.com, the likes of which help individuals to feel like they are not alone in their suffering. Other alternative remedies include the herbal supplement St. John’s Wort (although this requires medical advice as it can interfere with other medication) and involving oneself with new hobbies and interests, such as the University’s volunteering service SVC, which can help to inspire feelings of worth. Exercise is also known to ease the symptoms.
If you ever feel low, give yourself the time and space to find a way of making the light at the end of the tunnel seem brighter. The important thing to always remember is that however trivial you believe your feelings or problems to be that you deserve as much help or advice as you need.
Sofie Jenkinson
