Living through a historic pandemic and coping with the challenges of the first year of college led to clinical depression in one-third of students, double the percentage seen in previous years.
Even though some people tend to be genetically protected from depression, they weren't ready for this case.
Let's find out more about why.
We Weren't Protected Enough
Even those with genetic factors that usually protect against depression showed symptoms during the pandemic.
The rise in depression was particularly notable among young women with genetic resilience.
However, studying these students' experiences has led to the development of an Affect Score tool.
This tool combines responses from various mental health questionnaires and may help predict and prevent stress-related depression in vulnerable individuals.
By understanding the factors contributing to depression risk, there's hope for better prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Why It's Important To Know
The study underscores the importance of considering both genetic and non-genetic factors in assessing mental health vulnerability among college students during stressful times.
The Affect Score tool, derived from massive data analysis, may provide a valuable means of identifying and supporting those at risk of depression.
The research team aims to further validate the tool and explore its potential applications beyond the college student population.
Previously, we talked about the benefits of cold water for mental health.
