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Music Students Suffering With Depression
What to do if you think that a student is suffering with depression
Depression can be difficult to spot, especially in young people. This is because the symptoms can be quite subtle and they are good at hiding how they really feel. It is also possible to mistake grief or loss for depression, as many of the symptoms are the same. There is a big difference between someone feeling down or slightly depressed (which is normal), and a person that has clinical depression. So, it is important not to start diagnosing or making assumptions.
Here are some of the signs to look out for if you think that a student could be severely depressed:
- Becoming quiet and withdrawn.
- A loss of interest and enthusiasm in the things that they enjoy doing and talking about.
- A lack of concentration and competence in what they are doing.
- Looking tired, and moving or talking slower than usual.
- Being tearful or emotional for little or no reason.
- Neglecting their appearance or personal hygiene
- Low confidence and self-esteem – constantly putting themselves down.
- Having a hopeless attitude or being negative about the future.
For a more detailed description of the symptoms, you can visit the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/symptoms/
If you are concerned about one of your students because their mood or behaviour is out of the ordinary you can do the following:
- Keep an eye on them for a few weeks to see if they improve. It could just be a difficult week.
- If things continue or get worse you could mention that they don’t seem like their usual self and ask if everything is ok? If they open up just listen and let them speak. They might tell you that a loved one has passed away or their parents are getting divorced, so they are responding how anyone would. This is why it is important to get the facts and not assume.
- If you are still concerned that it might be depression you can either express your concerns to their parents if they are a minor, or if they are an adult recommend that they visit their GP.
- They could also do an online self-assessment to see if they should seek professional support https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mood-self-assessment/
- It is important that someone who is depressed gets support quickly. If you leave it the symptoms can get much worse and it can take longer to recover.
There are different levels of depression which will determine the kind of treatment needed:
- Mild depression – has some impact on your daily life.
- Moderate depression – has a significant impact on your daily life.
- Severe depression – makes it almost impossible to get through daily life; a few people with severe depression may have psychotic symptoms.
Mild depression could be treated with some simple therapy (CBT, NLP, Hypnotherapy). Moderate depression can be treated with the same types of therapy but they may also need additional medication (anti-depressants). Severe depression will need a specialist mental health care team and treatment plan. Exercise is another great way to relieve the symptoms of depression as it produces natural chemicals that are in the anti-depressants (E.g. serotonin). For further advice or treatment, you can contact hypnotherapist & psychotherapist James Banfield – james@theliberatedmind.co.uk or call 07723 603296.
Visit theliberatedmind.co.uk to find out more.
About the Author:
James Banfield is a life coach and psychotherapist, proud to be helping people of all ages and careers to break free of the things holding them back, and lead a happy and fulfilling life. He is currently Member of the following Associations: National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) and the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH).
You can read more about how James can help you or someone you know by visiting: theliberatedmind.co.uk
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