64% college students highlight symptoms of depression: Survey

Over 64 per cent of college-going youths in the national Capital reported experiencing symptoms of depression and mood fluctuations while 17.8 per cent claimed to be getting thoughts about self-harm and suicide, a recent survey has found. 

As per the survey, over 51.6 per cent of the total 500 respondents complained of having anxiety symptoms, 34 per cent of female students and 15.7 per cent of male students reported having sleep disturbances, and 51.8 per cent students complained of feeling overburdened by academic pressures and uncertainties in career. 

The aim of this survey was to screen and identify common psychological health issues amongst college-going students. “In recent times, with rapid transition in the socio-cultural scenario, an upward trend has been seen in young individuals seeking help for depression and anxiety,” the report said.

“Anxiety symptoms include feeling excessive uneasiness and apprehension about future events, feeling ‘on the edge’, and bodily symptoms like experiencing palpitations, trembling of hands, uneasiness while breathing, unpleasant sensation in the stomach, excessive sweating, etc. It is important to understand when these symptoms need medical attention and seek timely help from professionals,” said Sunil Mittal, senior psychiatrist and chairperson of CIMBS.