Here’s what you should know about depression:

1. It can happen during the “prime” of your life.

Your late teens and early twenties are supposed to be a time of trying new things and finding yourself. What most people don’t think about is how hard of a transition it can be from high school to college. There are so many opportunities and things to get involved with on campus that it can be overwhelming. On top of that, you’re meeting new people and experiencing things that you may have not experienced before college. This combination that is supposed to be exciting and fun can also be stressful and scary. It’s important to remember that people handle their transition in different ways, and friends who may seem to be loving college life could be having a harder time than you thought.

2. Weather can actually have an impact on your mood.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a specific type of depression that is linked to changes in the weather. People with SAD often experience symptoms like low energy, changes in appetite and difficulty concentrating during cold or rainy weather. Luckily, we live in a place that only sees rain a week or two out of the year, but according to the Cal Poly REAL Team, people come into the health center more often during cloudy and rainy days.

3. It’s hard to explain why you feel this way.

It doesn’t matter who you talk to or what they ask, depression is a tough subject to talk about for anyone. Sometimes you can’t find the right words to describe how you feel, or you just honestly don’t know what you feel in the first place. For some people it’s like trying to describe the color red to someone who is color blind- nearly impossible. This is frustrating for not only the victim of depression, but also their friends and family because all they want are answers. The most important thing is to focus on how to help and less on what caused it.

4. You are not alone.

According to the REAL Team, 73 percent of college students suffer with mental illness, whether they know it or not. Sometimes people suffering with depression feel like they are the only one, but there are so many other people going through similar issues. Once you reach out to a friend or a counseling service a huge weight will be lifted off your shoulders. Cal Poly has a variety of resources to help people with depression and other mental health issues, including the peer counseling service, PULSE*. Admitting to the possibility of having a mental illness is both difficult and exhausting, but taking that step is important. It’s not easy by any means, but it’s the first step in taking control of your life.

PULSE (Peers Understanding Listening Supporting Educating) is located in the lower level of the Health Center (building 27). The REAL Team (Reach Out, Empower, Accept, Listen) focuses on depression, anxiety, stress management, eating disorders and a variety of other topics.