Mental Health Public Service Announcement (PSA)

 One mental health issue that college students deal with is depression. One fact about depression is that depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. Another fact about depression is that these symptoms range from mild to severe and can disrupt a person's ability to carry out everyday activities. Depression is also linked to increased health care costs and other health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Another fact about depression is that it is that it is also a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (National Institute of Mental Health). And the last fact about depression is that more women are affected by depression than men (World Health Organization). 

Depression can affect wellness and the wellness wheel by significantly impacting physical, occupational, emotional, and social wellness. Depression can also lead to physical health problems, decreased motivation, strained relationships, feelings of hopelessness, and disrupting overall wellness.

One strategy that can assist you with depression is physical activity, as engaging in regular physical activity, such as walking, jogging or even some light exercises like yoga. Another strategy that can assist you with depression is mindfulness, as it can help by breaking free from negative thought patterns that often accompany depression, as techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and grounding exercises can be beneficial for overcoming depression. One community agency that can assist with depression is the National Aliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as they are the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States, offering support groups, education and advocacy, and also offer information and resources.

One strategy that can help you deal with depression is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as CBT operates on the principle that are thoughts, emotion, and behaviors, are interconnected, in which by recognizing and modifying unhelpful patterns in these areas, individuals can improve their mood and overall mental well-being. Another strategy that can help you with depression is the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as MBCT teaches individuals to be more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations without judgement, fostering a different relationship these internal experiences.

One agency that assists with depression is the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). The Anxiety and Depression Association of America is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, as their phone number is 240-485-1018. Some information about the Anxiety and Depression Association of America's history is that it was founded in 1979 as the Phobia Society of America by a group of clinicians and patients, but in 2012 it became the Anxiety and Depression Association of America to reflect the overlap between anxiety and depression, acknowledging their frequent co-occurrence.