When talking to a TU/e student psychologist on the symptoms and the causes of depression, she explains: “There is no set of standard symptoms; possible indications could be that someone is acting differently than he or she normally does. For instance a change in eating and sleeping patterns, feelings of exhaustion, or feeling tired or down and left out. A typical symptom is withdrawal and isolation (cancelling social activities or missing classes). The factors that facilitate depression are a combination of genetic factors, the lack of a social network or a ‘safety net’, or the inability to cope with stress. Family matters, difficulties with your study, home sickness; they can all be reasons that people start to feel bad, but they are not per se causing depression.”

If someone observes different behavior in his or her friend, before drawing conclusions too fast, it’s always better to start with a light conversation and to show real concern. Sometimes, being a compassionate listener is much more important than giving advice. Never be too persistent, but involve him or her in healthy activities like studies, sports and invite that person for dinner. It can help to provide a so-called safety net that people can fall back to when they are going through a rough patch. It makes it easier for someone to come to you when he or she feels down.

In severe cases, encourage your friend to seek advice from a professional. Students can make an appointment with one of the student psychologists at TU/e.

One can’t ‘fix’ this problem but showing maximum support and care, can aid in relieving the stress and can avoid extreme consequences.