Eighty percent of college students report experiencing depression some time after coming to college, according to a study cited by Nathan Pruitt, a doctor at University Health Services. Pruitt discussed depression and its tendency to go untreated Wednesday.
According to students, this is an important issue that shouldn't be ignored. A lot of people on college campuses have experienced things like this. I think it's important to know about and be aware of,\ UW-Madison senior Amy Ritzman said.
Pruitt distinguished between several types of depression.
Major depressive disorder is the most severe. Symptoms usually occur most of the day, everyday, over a short period of time. People who suffer from this disorder often experience diminished interest in previously enjoyable activities, significant changes in weight or appetite, and sleeping too much or too little.
Dysthymia, another type of depression, is characterized by many of the same symptoms. Since it's long-term and not as intense as MDD, many people don't acknowledge it, Pruitt said.
""A lot of people don't even know they have it,"" he said.
Seasonal-affectedness disorder is a type of depression that becomes problematic in the wintertime, but goes away in the spring and summer.
""Truthfully, sometimes the details aren't important and it's just, ‘Do you have any symptoms, is it impairing your function, are you bothered by them and how do you get help?'"" Pruitt said.
Depression has a range of triggers, including genetics, family problems, relationship breakups and pressure at work or school.
""Depression is associated with grades dropping in classes, one half to more than one half,"" Pruitt said. ""If you add that up over a lot of classes, obviously that's really going to affect your grade point average.""
UW-Madison senior and Wisconsin Union Directorate Contemporary Issues Committee member Matt Rink said raising awareness about college depression is important.
""We come together to look at issues that are under-explored. I think it's something that needs to be explored and acknowledged that it's out there,"" Rink said.
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