You Are Not Alone

Student life brings its own stresses and pressures and it may not be "the best time of your life." If you have been experiencing any symptoms of depression for a period of more than two weeks continuously it is advisable to seek treatment from your GP or student counselling department. There are links to all of the student counselling departments on the resources page.

It's also important that you look at the Stress, Anxiety & Depression section of this website - comprehensive detail on the generic aspects of these common problems a wealth of help and advice on other websites.

Helping Yourself

Here are some tips to help lift your mood - remember, you have more control than you think.

• Aerobic exercise can help to lift your mood.
• Spend time with friends. If you stay on your own, isolation can increase depressed and paranoid thoughts and feelings. Try to talk to someone about how you are feeling.
• Do not sit in front of your work for hours when you are unable to think clearly. Depression often affects concentration and short term memory. These will gradually improve as your depression lifts. In the meantime, just do what you can, at times when you feel able to study.
• Speak to your academic or personal tutor or another member of staff to let them know about your difficulties and to make arrangements about exams or coursework.
• Have a talk to your GP - persistent depression does respond to appropriate pharmaceutical intervention.

• Try to resist the temptation to blank things out, or manage sleep disturbance, by using alcohol, drugs or tobacco. These may provide temporary relief but they do not resolve the depression and they may make things worse.
• If you feel at risk of harming yourself, or if you are having ideas about suicide, speak to someone who can help you. Look at your university resources (in the Support for Students - Resources page) or see "In a Crisis" panel which is on every page of this website.
• If you feel you do not want to speak to someone within your vet school, you may wish to approach other members of the University community such as the chaplain or the Student Union Welfare Officer.

• Have a chat with your University-based counselling service (listed under Support for Students - Resources) - admitting depression is not a sign of weakness, it's no different from the fact that going to vet school is an admission that you are not yet qualified - it's just learning new stuff.
• Did you have a hobby or a passion that you dropped when you came to University - think about involving yourself again - the rewards of re-engaging with something that you used to find meaningful are a great antidote.

Admitting depression is not a sign of weakness
It's no different from admitting that going to vet school means you are not yet qualified.
It's just about learning new stuff - knowledge and skills.

Helping a Friend or Housemate

• Depression can distort a person’s inner world into a nightmare of negative thoughts and feelings. As a friend, you can help by listening and by reminding them of reality. It is not helpful to imply that someone experiencing depression should pull himself or herself together as this is precisely what he or she cannot do.
• It can be difficult for someone with depression to ask for help as they often blame themselves for the way they are feeling. They may think they are being lazy or weak. Depression is a condition that responds to medical treatment. You can help by understanding this and helping your friend to understand this. If you can, encourage them to contact their GP or the University Counselling Service.
• People experiencing depression can be very difficult to be around. They may be irritable, frustrating and rejecting, particularly towards those closest to them. This may be a reflection of how hopeless, helpless and worthless they are feeling about themselves. Try not to be put off continuing your friendship by this behaviour.
• Try to encourage them to keep up the activities they enjoyed prior to the depression, particularly exercise and social activities.
• Do not encourage them to use alcohol or drugs to relax or forget their problems. These may bring temporary relief but they will not resolve the depression and may make it worse. Admitting depression is not a sign of weakness. It's no different from admitting that going to vet school means you are not yet qualified. It's just about learning new stuff - knowledge and skills. People experiencing depression can be difficult to be around. Don't give up on them. And make sure you have adequate support for yourself. Take suicide talk seriously.
• You need to take care of yourself and supporting a person with depression can be draining. Take time away or with other friends as well. If you are concerned about someone who is having problems then do not hesitate to contact one of the support services.
• If your friend is talking about suicide, either directly or in vague terms, take it seriously and encourage them to see their GP. If this is not possible, speak to someone who can intervene.

See the 'In a Crisis' section of this website. If necessary, you can always take your friend to the Emergency Department of your local hospital.

People experiencing depression can be difficult to be around
Don't give up on them.
And make sure you have adequate support for yourself.

Find Out More…

A talk by Dr Raj Persaud to students at RVC on the mental health of the veterinary profession.

David Bartram's Science of Happiness - In-Practice article on the mental wellbeing of the profession and how to improve it using the science of positive psychology.

Students against Depression website - Information, other resources, real student case histories and a discussion forum on student depression are located on this useful website.

Look at the Stress, Anxiety & Depression pages on this website.

Take suicide talk seriously

Sources of Help

See the Student Resources page for Helplines, websites and University counselling services.

See also the Stress, Anxiety & Depression - Find out More pages for a wealth of resources not specifically aimed at students.

See also:-
Stress, Anxiety & Depression
Sickness & Disability Rights & Support
Isolation & Loneliness
Vets & Debt
Addiction & Eating Disorders