Depression | Student Mental Health and Well-being

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. According to the American Psychological Association, people with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

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If you think you might have severe depression symptoms that affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities, you should consider talking to one of our counselors. Click here to learn more about MTU's counseling options

Common Signs and Symptoms:

Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that you once enjoyed
Feelings of worthlessness, guilt or helplessness
Lack of motivation
Social withdrawal
Changes in appetite and/or weight
Irritability and/or anger
Physical aches and/or pains
Changes in sleep patterns (difficulty falling asleep, waking up or oversleeping)
Trouble concentrating and/or making decisions
Decreased energy level or fatigue
Feeling restless and/or distracted
Thoughts of death or suicide

If you need help for you or someone else, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Types of Depression:

According to the ADAA, 264 million people worldwide live with depression. There are different types of depressive disorders, and while there are many similarities among them, each depressive disorder has its own unique set of symptoms. To learn more on the different forms of depression, please visit Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Living in a place with long winters and shorter days, such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a person may be more likely to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Traditionally, symptoms are noticed in the fall and improve in the spring, but can occur at any seasonal change.

For more information and treatment tips, please visit our Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) page.