https://docs.google.

com/document/d/1HV_S_oJjX7RODxsJEa-
zTDt_WWNgROOLFlsFuEGIyYc/edit

SUMMARY
Depression can be experienced by anyone. It is a condition which one must not face
alone. People who are diagnosed with depression usually keep their feelings to themselves as
they are afraid to be a burden to others. More so, people who have depression are not easily
identified. Sometimes, those who are always smiling and laughing are the ones who have
baggage behind their back. Nonetheless, several studies state that depression is most likely to be
felt and experienced by students especially undergraduates. These students in college are still in
a phase of transition especially the first year. It is hard to adjust to a new environment. New
stressors can arise in this environment. Anxiety can also experience. During this time, an
individual must acknowledge his or her feeling. No one should set aside what they are feeling. 

It is important to make people who are experiencing depression that there is someone
willing to help them. These individuals are not different from others. If they are different then
what makes them different from others is the fact that they are strong to overcome their own
emotions. However, this should not be the case because there may be instances that a person who
is diagnosed with depression would not be able to think clearly and do decisions that can end
their life. Thus, the best way on how to handle depression is to seek professional help. There is
nothing wrong with seeking help from others or taking medicines for depression. If this is what a
person needs to do then, they must do it. Aside from this, a person should appreciate the
importance of support groups. This would make them know that they are not alone in this world.
There are other individuals who are also fighting their own battles. Nonetheless, they can also
meet individuals who are facing the same challenges. This would help them overcome their
situation as well as they can get motivation and encouragement to move forward. There is
nothing wrong with helping others but it is important that the person extending their hand is also
in a good condition. This is to ensure that both parties would be safe and the lessons which one
could share are effective. Therefore, before a person seeks to help others he or she must help him
or herself. 

There are several ways on how to deal with depression. The public should be informed
regarding this because even now, there is still a stigma regarding it. Several mental health
organizations and initiatives exist within the country. These should be strengthened more so the
public would be open to this issue. These organizations need the support of everyone because
depression is not a joke. As mentioned earlier, students are the ones who are most likely to
experience it, this is the reason why schools or universities must look out to their students. This
should be emphasized to universities as most of their students live in dormitories and are away
from their families. They must promote and protect their students’ mental health. Consequently,
even the dormitories or residences where the students resides away from their family must do
something regarding the issue on mental health. They must look after these individuals and make
them feel welcome on their temporary homes. 

INTRODUCTION
 In the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Every man has his secret sorrows which
the world knows not, and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad”. In here, it says
that everyone has a battle that they are fighting on their own. They do not share this with anyone
but themselves. More so, the way how individuals in this situation act and feel may be
understood by the public in a different manner. They are misinterpreted as cold, emotionless, and
distant individuals but in reality, they are just sad and lonely. They received this perception as
these individuals have a hard time expressing themselves. 

According to Magklara et al. (2015), depression is considered to be a common mental

health problem among adolescents globally. Most of these individuals only carry the burden
among themselves. They do not seek professional assistance in overcoming this problem. There
is only a little population of adolescents who seek professional help and assistance in cases
where they are diagnosed with depression (Magklara et al., 2015). Nonetheless, the youth is one
of the sectors which commonly experienced this problem. In the study of Cooper et al. (2020),
they explained that undergraduates are most prone to experiencing depression as this is the top
mental health problem they encounter. This greatly affects the educational experience of a
student not only in terms of the knowledge he or she acquires but also the relationships that he or
she builds. Cooper et al. (2020) found out that the relations of students with others, the feedback
they get from the professors, and the accomplishment of tasks are affected when the student
experience depression. This is the reason why it is important to have someone support a person
experiencing depression. To socialize with other people is part of human nature as individuals
were born with a need to feel belong to the society (Edwards, 2018). Thus, what more would be
the scenario for those individuals who are experiencing mental health problems. They need
someone who could support and look after them. Susman (2019) explained the benefits of having
a support group in times of facing depression or abuse on substance use. He stated that with the
support group, a person would not feel that he or she is alone. There is someone who is also
experiencing the same concern as what the person has. Thus, support groups are highly
encouraged for the people battling their own problems.

BACKGROUND
In this case, Shaina was ashamed to share her condition with her friends. The new
environment where she has emerged contributes to her feelings and situations. It is noted that she
is just a first-year college student and living in a dorm, away from her family. The given
situation does not help in her way of coping up with her mental health condition. Instead, the
feeling of sadness and loneliness can take a toll on her and affect her emotional, social, and even
psychological well-being. Butler (2021) stated that depression is a common problem within
society but this is most likely to be experienced by college students especially those who are
incoming first-year students. This is true based on the scenario given in the case. College is
expected to be stressful as it would be a new environment for the student. Those who will be
staying in dormitories would experience being away with their family and living with a
roommate with who they are not close (Butler, 2021). Being separated from one’s family is a big
change for a person who lived with her family since the beginning. More so, college is the time
where a person could seek her place in the real world and this is overwhelming. Thus, this phase
is really stressful. According to the study conducted at the University of Alabama and
Birmingham, half of the freshmen students enrolled and living in the Founder’s hall are
diagnosed with depression and society (Butler, 2021). When asked for the reason they explained
that the increase in the workload together with their adjustment phase on the dorm life made
them feel that way. This is the result despite the fact that 87% of the surveyed freshmen are
aware of the resources offered by the campus in regards to health and welness. From here it can
be concluded that the students do not utilize the resources provided by the school. Thus, there is
a need to improve on the resources. Consequently, this should alarm universities as depression
on college students can result to several effects such as indecisiveness, thought regarding suicide,
etc. 

With the being said, those who are diagnosed with depression, as well as anxiety, must
seek professional health. The stigma on mental health issues should end so that these individuals
who are fighting their own battles would not feel scared of seeking help. Counselling would also
be helpful so that they would be more encouraged to fight and continue to move forward. In this
way, they would also feel that they are not alone. Furthermore, those who are depressed must
find activities that they are interested in as this could help them combat depression (Butler,
2021). With that being said, the idea of Shaina to have a role in terms of promoting awareness on
mental health and prevention of suicide is helpful and beneficial. Since, she, herself is a
freshman living at a dormitory and diagnosed with depression, her participation would be
significant. However, it must be remembered that she, herself, is not yet ready to open up with
others. Therefore, it would be best if Shaina will focus on her own well-being first. Raising
awareness on mental health and prevention of suicide is important. However, this must be done
by a person who is capable. The action of Shaina in seeking for her adviser's help is valid but it
would be best if she would seek experts who are knowledgeable on the matter. Also, she should
prioritize herself first before helping others. 

ALTERNATIVES
Shaina should seek professional help for her own good. Although her intention to others
is a good decision, she should still worry herself first. It can be seen that she is having a hard
time with the new environment. Thus, it would be best if she would seek psychiatrists who can
help her. In this way, she can be a good role model to others who are afraid of seeking
professional help because of the judgments that it can result. Also, if her condition would be
better then she can do more for others who are suffering from depression. Seeking professional
help would also avoid triggers when she interacts with other individuals fighting their own
battles. It cannot be denied that there are possibilities that when she interacts with other
individuals, her episode of depression can be triggered and this is not good for her. This could
also affect the other party which is why Shaina must seek help from professionals who can give
her advice on what to do in these cases. 

Another alternative would be to seek a support group such as her family and friends. In
this case, Shaina is not comfortable sharing her condition with her friends. This is understandable
and valid. Thus, she needs to adjust first before doing big steps for others. She cannot effectively
help others if she cannot help herself. With that being said, Shaina must learn to speak and trust
others. She needs to realize that she is not alone. It is important that those who are diagnosed
with depression do not deal with their condition on their own; rather they can seek support from
other people who dearly care for them as this would make their condition easier (University of
Michigan, 2021). With this strong support system, the depressed person can acquire
encouragement and help them with their condition. For Shaina, this would be helpful especially
since she wants to help others who are feeling the same. She needs to establish a support group
first so that she can give an example to others. 

Lastly, Shaina can join a mental awareness campaign. This can either be within her
campus or a non-governmental organization. Awareness of mental health is prevalent nowadays
but these are not seen as important by the public. One of the organizations which Shaina can join
would be the #MentalHealthPH. This is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that
aims to provide a safe community for individuals who have mental health problems and their
loved ones. It also promotes the necessity of protecting one’s mental health in the Philippines.
By joining organizations like this, Shaina can learn to be engaged in a community that promotes
and protects mental health. This would be beneficial to her. Furthermore, she can also acquire
new knowledge regarding mental health and its services. The learnings that she can acquire here
can be later on used when she plans on helping her fellow students fight their own battles.
Nonetheless, the connections that she would build here can be useful in the future. Thus, this
would benefit her and others. 

CONCLUSION
Depression is one of the common mental health problems in society. However, it is most
likely to be experienced by those college students especially the ones who are just new to the set-
up, the freshmen. They are still in the period of transition which is why it is possible for them to
be overwhelmed with the events. Nonetheless, those who are staying in dormitories away from
their families are also likely to experience depression. This is the reason why there is a need for
them to have support groups. They need to realize that they are not alone. In the case, Shaina, a
freshman diagnosed with depression, wants to help raise awareness on mental health problems.
Her intention is in good faith but she should realize that it would be better if she would first
make her condition better before helping others. If she is in good well-being then, she can
effectively help those students fighting depression. 

SOLUTION
The community where Shaina’s dorm is located should give importance to the mental
health of the students living within their premises. These individuals are away from their families
and emerge in a community with which they are not familiar. With that being said, the
authorities within the community must do something to welcome and look on the students. One
of the possible solutions would be through conducting mental health seminars and campaigns.
They can coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH), who has a mental health program.
This mental health program is considered to be comprehensive as this program offers promotive
and preventive services as well as treatment and rehabilitative assistance (Department of Health,
2018). Another reason why it would be appropriate for the community to coordinate with DOH
is that the said department has an initiative on providing treatment facilities within the
community whether at the national or barangay level. Thus, with this department, the community
where Shaina is emerged can have effective mental health seminars as they are guided by DOH.
It was also stated that this mental health program conducted by DOH was able to conduct
advocacy activities and training in regards to mental health. These accomplishments were able to
be done with the help of other partner institutions such as the Department of Education,
Commission on Higher Education, World Health Organization, etc. (Department of Health,
2018). With these institutions, a more effective mental health program would be possible. 
 The next solution would be for the community to regularly check and look at the
conditions of the students staying with them. Selvaraj (2017) stated that living in dorms and
being diagnosed with depression can be stressful. Since usually these individuals also experience
social anxiety, it would be hard for them to communicate with others. The usual person that is
closed to the students in dorms is the residential assistants (Selvaraj, 2017). These individuals
should undergo training on how they would interact with the students living in the premises.
Since there are instances where students can feel irritation towards the chipper attitude of the
residential assistants, it would be best if they would be trained on how to act towards the student
so that they would be avoided by them. More so, since the students experience social anxiety, the
residential assistants must also know how they would comfort these individuals. They should
regularly check up on the students so that they could detect if something is unusual to the person.
Nonetheless, what is important is for the students to know that there is someone looking out for
them. 

The last solution which the community or the residence can do is to have an initiative on
creating a support group within the premise. They can group the students together so that the
resident students would know that there is someone they can rely on. To make this initiative
more effective, the resident students must be provided guidelines regarding the initiative. The
objective of the program would be included here as well as what is expected and how the
program would work. Nonetheless, the residence must look at each of the support groups
regularly to ensure that everyone is in a good condition. In addition, the residence or the dorm
should make sure that before the students move into the premises, they are aware of the initiative
so that the students would not worry that much regarding the new environment. Selvaraj (2017)
stated that it is important for the student to know the residence where one would stay. This would
help the student dealing with depression to know himself more and how he could handle the
situation in a new environment. It is important for the resident students to know that they are not
alone. This is what the residences or dorms should make the students feel. The students must
realize that even if the students emerge in a new environment, the people around them are
willing to help them along the way. 

REFERENCES
https://www.mhinnovation.net/organisations/mentalhealthph

https://doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-program

https://www.uab.edu/studentmedia/kaleidoscope/features/382-freshmen-depression-in-the-dorms

Cooper, K. M., Gin, L. E., Barnes, M. E., & Brownell, S. E. (2020). An exploratory study of
students with depression in undergraduate research experiences. CBE—Life Sciences Education,
19(2). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.19-11-0217

Magklara, K., Bellos, S., Niakas, D., Stylianidis, S., Kolaitis, G., Mavreas, V., & Skapinakis, P.
(2015). Depression in late adolescence: A cross-sectional study in senior high schools in Greece.
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Susman, D. (2019, November 3). 9 benefits of support groups: Advocating for Better Mental
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Butler, M. (n.d.). Freshmen Depression in the Dorms. The University of Alabama At

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