Introduction

Welcome everyone

University students experience a lot of stress. There[Contact us at Center for Health Sciences and Counseling]

are many students who are trying to manage on their○Mon. – Fri. 9:00-17:00

own but reach a point where they no longer know what

○http://www.chc.kyusyu-u.ac.jp/

to do and wonder if they have any mental disorder.

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling(2nd floor, Big Sand) 092-802-5881

Under such a circumstance, the campus life and healthsupport center offer consultations with physicians andcounsellors and make referrals for mental healthconsultations.
H o w e v e r, s o m e s t u d e n t s m a y h e s i t a t e s u c hconsultations because they are nervous about thepossible questions they would be asked, or because
they do not know how to explain their problems.
Therefore, we have summarized some common mental
and physical issues that students experience. If you
find anything that fits what you or your friends areexperiencing, please contact the campus life andhealth support center. You may not be experiencing
any of these conditions today, but it would be good toknow. Please take your time and read this pamphlet.

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Center Zone, Ito Campus
Ito Center Zone (1st floor, Center Zone 1) 092-802-5859
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Ito Campus West Zone
Ito West Zone (3 rd floor, West Zone 3) 092-802-3297

SelfcareFor students

Mental and physical health 8

Symptoms ofdepression

Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Hospital Campus(1st floor, Building of Administrative
Offices of Research and Education) 092-642-6889
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,
Chikushi Campus(old health science center) 092-583-7685
Center for Health Sciences and Counseling,Ohashi Campus(2nd floor, Design Commons) 092-553-4581

Selfcare series for students[Student life][Mental and physical health]

1. Student counseling Q & A

1. Sleep disorder

2. How to make small talk

2. Headache

3. How to take tests andmake presentations

3. Anemia

4. How to not procrastinate
5. How to get over failures
6. How to deal with parents
during adolescent year

4. Intestinal issues
5. Adjustment disorder
6. Anxiety disorder andpanic disorder

7. How to control anger

7. Cause ofdepression

8. Transfer students

8. Symptoms of depression

9. How to manage yourschedule

9. Autonomic nerves andautogenic training

This pamphlet summarizes the information necessary for you

10. Friendship at the university

10.Relaxationencounter. Please refer to this pamphlet as needed.

11. Quit the university?

11. Health issues associatedwith smoking

12. For students that planto study abroad

12. Infectious diseases

Source: Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University.
Illustration by Chiyo Inoue※Copyright Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University.

to manage the mental and physic al problems you may

Kyushu University
Center for Health Sciences and CounselingSymptoms of depression

Lack of focus and cognitive abilities

Depression can lead to such unbearable mental states, and it

People become unable to study, read, or complete tasks thatis very difficult to get out of such mental states.

require focus. They might feel that their brain is not working,and start making mistakes. Decisions are difficult to make, andThere are three common mental symptoms.
Depressed mood

There are also following changes.

become procrastinated. If severe, thinking becomes difficult.
People become forgetful, and some might fear that they are

Sleep disorderdeveloping dementia.

Many people are exhausted but wake up early, or doze on andoff without getting a good sleep. Some complain that they

Loss of interest and joy
Anxiety and frustrations

dream all night without getting a good rest. In contrast, somePeople feel useless and frustrated that they are not goodpeople will sleep all the time. Insomnia will make the above

Depressed moodenough and must do better. They feel like they have to do

symptoms much worse.

“Depressed mood” is when people feel blue and melancholic.

something about it, yet feel helpless. This leads to anxiety and

They cannot stop feeling blue, cannot cheer up howsoever

restlessness. People might fear a horrible end, leading toLack of appetite and weight loss

hard they tr y, and are over whelmed by sadness. This

extreme anxiety. Some symptoms include violent palpitations,

People might lose appetite. Even if they try to eat, food tastes

subjective symptom is the fundamental symptom of depression,difficulty to breath, fear of death, and panic.

like sand and there is no joy, leading to weight loss. If

Low energy such as loss of motivation and fatigue

symptoms are mild, some people may develop overeating.

but there are some people with depression who are not awareof their depressed mood.

Loss of confidence and self-contempt
There is no motivation, and tasks do not progress smoothly.

Low sex driveThis makes people feel incompetent and useless.

People might lose interest in romantic relationships or sex.

what used to be interesting. It is a frustrating experience whereSelf-blame and guilt

Physical symptoms

people want to enjoy something but are unable to do so.

People cannot do what they are supposed to do and feel bad

There may be various physical problems, including headache;

Loss of interest and joy
People cannot find joy in what they used to enjoy, or interest inthat they are a burden on others. They blame themselves forstiff shoulders; stomach pain; palpitations; cardiovascular

Low energy

being a burden on their family and friends. It is not common insymptoms such as dizziness upon standing; and digestive

People find it too much to start something new or lose energy

Japanese, but some people will think that they are sinful andsymptoms such as heartburn, bloating, and constipation. If

in the middle of something. In this way, they become aware ofneed to be punished.

these physical symptoms are notable, it may be diagnosed as
masked depression or autonomic ataxia.

the loss of will power. There is no motivation. Even if there ismotivation, there is no energy. People might become tired

Hopelessness

quickly, or feel tired without doing much, which is called easySome people may think “If I can only do so little, there is no

If any of the above symptoms persist for two weeks or more

fatigability. People who believe that they can get everything

point. I keep being a burden on everyone else, and have nowithout any improvement, it is quite likely depression. Please

done properly may blame themselves for being lazy.

right to be alive. I am a living corpse. There is only misery in thego see a doctor.

future.” Such people c ould bec ome over whelmed with
These are normal mental states for anyone when they arehopelessness in this manner.

disappointed with some outcomes. However, these moods will
improve if the situation improves. Even without the situation

Suicidal thoughts

improving, it tends to improve in one to two weeks. However,Hopelessness and guilt lead to suicidal thoughts. People may

with depression, there is no improvement or recovery.

feel that it would be easier to die, that they want to die and getaway from pain. They might want to erase themselves as they

There are also following symptoms of depression.

feel useless.

Atsushi ICHIMIYA, November 2016