Research shows many incoming freshmen will experience homesickness and some sadness.
However, there is a handful who come down with more than just "the blues," making them part of the 18.8 million adults who will experience a depressive illness this year, according to a recent study by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Texas Tech student Tiffany Balzer, a freshman pre-communication disorders major from the Woodlands, said she gets homesick sometimes and understands how students can get depressed.
"I think it is easy for freshmen to get depressed because we are so used to our parents doing everything for us," she said.
Rolf Gordhamer, director of Tech's Counseling Center, said depression doesn't have to run a student's life.
"Although depression is very common, especially on campus, usually if you talk about it you can work through whatever it is that is causing that depression," he said.
According to WebMD, a Web site that deals with health concerns, only one in 10 people with depression receive adequate treatment.
Gordhamer said the Counseling Center is available to aid students with whatever problems are causing them grief. He suggests that before a student goes to the doctor in search of medications, he or she tries the center and see if they can resolve the issues through counseling.
"Depression in a lot of instances occurs when a situation comes up that a student does not know how to solve," he said. "For others, depression is a part of their genetic components and medication is needed to balance that out."
Meredith Dotter, a freshman pre-med major from Houston, said many students avoid getting help because of the embarrassment that comes along with admitting he or she has depression.
"I think that people think it is embarrassing to go to the Counseling Center for depression. They think 'I don't want to look like a baby,'" she said. "Personally, I don't see anything wrong with going to the Counseling Center or getting help, but I can see how people would see it as embarrassing."
Circumstantial situations, increased demands, a new lifestyle and other life stressors are often triggers of depression, Gordhamer said, noting that if untreated, depression can lead to severe lifestyle changes, isolation, health risks and even suicide.
WebMD listed warning signs of potential suicide as suicide threats, withdrawal, life crisis, behavior change, aggression, moodiness and sudden gift giving.
Gordhamer said sadness becomes depression when a student is taken out of his or her normal behavior. Other signs he noted were lack of sleep, changes in eating habits, low energy and general unhappiness.
The center is located in 214 West Hall. Gordhamer said talking with a counselor is the key to feeling better.
"Since so much of depression is caused by not knowing how to cope with something, talking to a counselor and getting help is beneficial," he said. "A lot of depression can be resolved if people will just get up and get help."
For more information on depression or to talk to a counselor, call (806) 742-3674.
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