Ikegbunam Peter Chierike, Education Correspondent, p.ikegbunam@yahoo.com
The rate at which suicide is reported in the media in this recent time has drawn attention to the need for enquiry into the propelling factors leading to such an ungodly act among the youths. From observation, one of the most noticeable factors that significantly culminate in suicide mission is depression.
Depression is one of the emotional problems usually caused by a state of hopelessness and helplessness in the minds of affected persons. It is a prevalent problem among college’s students across the world and it affects students’ ability to perform activities of daily life and gives them no reason to be alive. Depression is marked by sad feelings among college students which are known as common mental illness
Scientifically, depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest which opens the mind of affected person(s) highly vulnerable to all kinds of negative thoughts. It affects how people feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional, psychological and physical problems (Markus, 2017). It makes the victims feel as if life isn’t worth living. It leads to low self-esteem, being too pessimistic and self-criticalness. Unfortunately victims hardly “snap out” of depression because of total lack knowledge of what is happening to them. This is why suicide is rampant in the society.
Globally, close to 800,000 people commit suicide every year due to depression related problems (WHO, 2018). It has no age nor gender limits but rampant among women. Depression is very common around the world affecting an estimated number of 350 million people globally. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults. Most of the times, they feel reluctant to seek help but subscribe to take their lives as if God’s own time for their death seems to be very far from their current situations.
Significantly, the reasons why some people grow depressed are notalways known. Researchers suspect there are actually many different causes of depression and that it is not always preventable. Test anxiety and depression are one of the major challenges experienced by students, considering the inverse associations they have on student’s mental well-being and academic performance (Lewinsohn, Shankman, Gau & Klein, 2004).
Among some of the casual factors that drag students into depression are exams and other stressful school activities which sometimes make students feel they have lost their life’s best moment. Examinations stress and school work are considered among the major stress causes in adolescents life, especially when they act as an obstacle in the face of their future aspirations (Smyth, 1995). Whether being an interim form of anxiety before critical final exams time or a daily hassles students experience throughout their schooling time, stressors like inefficient study before exam, lack of review of study materials, negative irrational concerns about exam, study nights and other socio-emotional factors, may causatively or indirectly correlated with other psychological problems like anxiety depression or other forms of diseases and maladjustments (Hashmat, Hashmat, Amanullah & Aziz, 2008; Singh & Jha, 2013)
Depression can be classified into:
Recurrent depressive disorder which involves repeated depressive episodes. During these episodes, the person experiences depressed mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy leading to diminished activity for at least two weeks.
Bipolar affective disorder: This type of depression typically consist both manic and depressive episodes but is separated by periods of normal mood.
Depression, however, can be caused by certain factors which according to Schimelpfening (2019), include:
A family history of depression- a student victim of depression can be as a result of family history of being depressed. One is more likely to experience symptoms of depression if others in ones’ family also have depression or another type of mood disorder
Certain medical conditions- a student is more likely to experience depression if he has a chronic illness, sleep disorder, and thyroid conditions. Depression rates also tend to be higher among people who have chronic pain, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.
Substance use- this is what scientists regarded as self-induced cause of depression. Having a history of substance use or misuse can also increase the likelihood of depression. Those with persistent substance use are mostly attacked by depression and they end up taking their lives or the lives others around them in a careless substance-induced act.
Biological and genetic factors: Estimates have shown that 40% of depressions cases are caused by genetic factors. Twin, adoption, and family studies have linked depression to genetics. While studies suggest that there is a strong genetic component, researchers are not yet certain about all the genetic risk factors for depression. Most researchers suspect that having parents or siblings with depression may be a risk factor for depression. It is still unclear exactly which genes play a role in depression and other mood disorders, but researchers do know that there are many different genes that can play a role. By better understanding how they function, gene researchers hope to be able to create effective treatments.
Brain chemistry imbalance: Another potential biological cause of depression is an imbalance in the Neurotransmitters which are responsible for mood regulation. (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine). Neurotransmitters are chemical substances which help different areas of the brain communicate with each other. When certain neurotransmitters are in short supply, this may lead to the symptoms we recognize as clinical depression. This theory of depression suggests that having too much or too little of certain neurotransmitters causes, or at least contributes to, depression. While this explanation is often cited as a major cause of depression, it remains unproven and many experts believe that it does not paint a complete picture of the complex factors that contribute to depression. Medications to treat depression often focus on altering the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. Some of these treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).
The female sex hormones: women have high chances of becoming depressed because hormone fluctuations caused by childbirth and thyroid conditions can both contribute to depression. Postpartum depression may occur after a woman has given birth, and is believed to result from the rapid hormonal changes that take place immediately after childbirth. This declines after menopause.
Circadian Rhythm Disturbances: This is a seasonal depression rampant among the west.
Physical Health: The mind and the body are clearly linked. If you are experiencing a physical health problem you may discover changes in your mental health as well. Illness is related to depression in two ways. The stress of having a chronic illness may trigger an episode of major depression. In addition, certain illnesses, such as thyroid disorders, Addison’s disease, and liver disease, can cause depression symptoms.
Grief and Loss: Following the loss of a loved one, grieving individuals experience many of the same symptoms of depression. Trouble sleeping, poor appetite and a loss of pleasure or interest in activities are a normal response to loss.
Stress: Researchers suspect high levels of the hormone cortisol and finally, one’s inability to let go of the past. These pasts keeps hunting them till they get out of control with its effect.
In another development, depression goes with some significant symptoms that serve as signs that something ugly is around the corner. Depression can be identified with different symptoms including feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness. This kind of feelings came into once mind when one seems to be less progressive in life. It happens when efforts seems to be fruitless. This forces the affected mind to get frustrated even over every small matter that ordinarily, wouldn’t have triggered reactions. Such person usually loss interest in all his normal activities like sports, hobbies and sex. This time, distorted sleep will occur and all body abnormalities will set in. there will be self-blame and feeling of worthlessness; restlessness and loss of appetite will set in leading to a total state of tiredness and lack of energy to perform even the least task. Retarded thinking ability occasioned by poor articulation of the mind and body movement including talking to oneself. Somebody needs help here. There will be headache and unexplained pains all over the body of the affected person. Then the mind will go back lost opportunities, past failures and suicidal thoughts occasioned by total lack of the ability to forgive oneself over past mistakes.
Scientifically, there is no sure way to prevent depression, however, as a problem, below are some tips that can be of help should one find himself in the situation.
Let go of the past: one of the best advice on managing depression is the advice given by Sonia Ricotta when she advised her students to always try to “accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be”. This very advice covers the need to forge ahead in-spite of all that had happened and is happening but remain focused in the belief that tomorrow will be better than today. In another development, when depressed, one is advised to reach out to friends and relatives. People get hurt when depressed as a result of keeping aloof or living a recluse life in time of stress. Being among people and sharing you problems with few trusted relatives can go a long way in managing depressed minds. The consumption of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs as a means of controlling stress is never the option. Avoid them as they will make you more vulnerable to the challenges at hand. When depressed, identify the things you like most when normal and do them repeatedly. That will give you the reasons to live while praying to God to grant you the fortitude to accept that which you cannot change.
References
Angold A, Costello E. (1993). Depressive co morbidity in children and adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150 (12), 1779-1791.
Clark, J., Fox, P., & Schneider, H. (1998). Feedback, test anxiety and performance in a college course. Psychological reports, 82(1), 203-208
Hashmat, S., Hashmat, M., Amanullah, F., & Aziz, S. (2008). Factors causing exam anxiety in medical students. Journal-Pakistan Medical Association, 58(4), 16
Lewinsohn, P. M., Shankman, S. A., Gau, J. M., & Klein, D. N. (2004). The prevalence and co-morbidity of sub-threshold psychiatric conditions. Psychological medicine, 34(4), 613-22
Markus, G (2017). Depression: Tests, symptoms, causes, and treatment. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933
Schimelpfening, N. (2019). Depression: Causes and risk factors – Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/common-causes-of-depression-1066772
Smyth, F. L. (1995). Standardized testing in college admission: How the ACT and the SAT are used and compared. Journal of College Admission, 148, 24-31
WHO, (2018). Fact sheet on depression – world health organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression