Big rise in rates of depression among students

Rates of depression among college students have surged in the past decade. A new study from Boston University reports that the number of students experiencing anxiety or depression more than doubled between 2013 and 2021. They found that the number of students suffering from anxiety jumped by 110 per cent. The number of students with depression skyrocketed by 135 per cent over the eight-year period of the study. In 2021, over 60 per cent of students met the criteria for having some form of mental illness. This is double the rate from eight years ago. Alarm bells are now ringing among mental health therapists. However, the number of students seeking therapy has fallen by 18 per cent.

Rates of depression among students had been on an upward trend even before 2013. Researcher Dr Sarah Lipson said: "College is a key developmental time. The age of onset for lifetime mental health problems also directly coincides with traditional college years." She said: "Living in a new setting, and away from home, can often create overwhelming and stressful circumstances." She added that 75 per cent of lifetime mental health problems will be present in people by the age of 24. Dr Lipson cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the loneliness of lockdowns, and school closures as factors that exacerbated this mental health crisis. Many students fear for their future, which they see as being increasingly full of uncertainty.

1. STUDENT LIFE: What was difficult for you being a student? How did you deal with these difficulties? 

 

Your Difficulties

Your Solutions

Studying

 

 

Money

 

 

Friends

 

 

Exams

 

 

Teachers

 

 

School life

 

 

 

2.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1.surgeda.A particular way in which a thing exists or appears.
      2.anxietyb.The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
      3.sufferingc.A feeling of worry or nervousness about something with an uncertain outcome.
      4.criteriad.Attempting to find something.
      5.forme.Suddenly increased a lot.
      6.therapistf.The principles or standards by which something may be judged or decided.
      7.seekingg.A person who treats psychological and mental health problems.

    Paragraph 2

      8.trendh.Of great importance.
      9.keyi.Very great in amount.
      10.onsetj.A time of intense difficulty or danger.
      11.coincidek.The beginning of something, especially something unpleasant.
      12.overwhelmingl.Make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
      13.exacerbatedm.Happen at the same time.
      14.crisisn.A general direction in which something is developing or changing.

 

3. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. rates
  2. jumped
  3. criteria
  4. therapists
  5. seeking
  6. key
  7. onset
  8. coincides
  9. exacerbated
  10. uncertainty
  1. indicators
  2. happens together
  3. searching for
  4. start
  5. leapt up
  6. riskiness
  7. percentages
  8. worsened
  9. crucial
  10. psychologists





4.Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, crime or global warming.

Role  B – Health
You think health is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): money, crime or global warming.

Role  C – Crime
You think crime is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, money or global warming.

Role  D – Global Warming
You think global warming is the biggest worry. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their worries aren't as big. Also, tell the others which is the least worrying of these (and why): health, crime or money.

OR

  • Family
  • The future
  • Old age
  • Social media

5.Discussion - Depression

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS 

  1. What do you know about depression?
  2. Why might students be depressed?
  3. How can we help people with depression?
  4. Why is so little understood about depression?
  5. How well does your country help people with mental health issues?
  6. What's the difference between depression and anxiety?
  7. Have you ever had anxiety or depression?
  8. Would you seek help if you were depressed?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS 

  1. How stressful is going to college?
  2. How difficult is it to move away from home?
  3. How stressful is the COVID-19 pandemic?
  4. How does loneliness affect mental health?
  5. What are your biggest worries?
  6. How certain or uncertain is your future?
  7. What questions would you like to ask a mental health therapist?

6.Spelling

Paragraph 1

  1. ugrdse in the past decade
  2. the number of students experiencing xyeatni
  3. more than dledubo between 2013 and 2021
  4. ktrdcokesye by 135 per cent
  5. over 60 per cent of students met the rirtaice
  6. the number of students seeking yaprteh

Paragraph 2

  1. gvrmnlohweie and stressful circumstances
  2. directly nciecsido with traditional college years
  3. Dr Lipson cetdi the COVID-19 pandemic
  4. the slensoniel of lockdowns
  5. school esclrosu
  6. drbteexeaac this mental health crisis

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