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
to do and wonder if they have any mental disorder.
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.

○http://www.chc.kyusyu-u.ac.jp/Center for Health Sciences and Counseling(2nd floor, Big Sand) 092-802-5881
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 7

Cause for depression

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 plan
to 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 mayKyushu University
Center for Health Sciences and CounselingCause of depression（2）Personality: nervous, passionate, obsessive, etc.

depression. On the other hand, personalities ③ and ④ tend to

There are some personalities known to be prone to depression

experience mild symptoms, but their conditions may last for aor have difficulty recovering from depression.

long time.

①Immodithymia（3）Organic: Brain trauma or cerebrovascular disorder

People who are serious and methodical and lose track of time

Various mental symptoms appear as sequel following a head

There are following three causes of depression.

once engrossed in something until they finish what they started

trauma due to car accidents, especially brain trauma that

(1) Psychogenic: anxiety and stress due to environment andmay be considered to have characteristics of immodithymia.

causes loss of consciousness, cerebrovascular disorders such

People of this personality have difficulty noticing fatigue, oras cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage, which are(2) Personality: nervous, passionate, obsessive, etc.

ignore and dismiss fatigue, and thus, tend to becomecalled stroke, and so on. The worst disorder is dementia, but if(3) Organic: Brain trauma or cerebrovascular disorder.

overworked. Those who are workaholic, and unaware of theit is not severe, symptoms similar to depression may appear.

decline in their physical strength and mental energy, tend toHowever, it tends to be expressed as loss of desire more than（1）Psychogenic: anxiety and stress due to environment and events

develop depression or physical un-wellness in the middle age

melancholy.

One becomes depressed due to excessive anxiety fromand beyond.

1. Cause of depression

events.

2. Increasing trend in psychogenic depression

problems and unpleasant situations that last long
(psychological stress). It may be called psychogenic or②Cheerful but can get depressed

psychogenic reactive depression.

Sociable and easily adapts to new relationships. This person

The modern time is sometimes called the age of stress, andIf normal rest does not help, treatment may be necessary. The

can be cheerful but may also get depressed sometimes. This is

the number of people being diagnosed with depression ismost common causes of depression include struggling with acalled cyclothymia. This person is kind, enjoys chats anddefinitely increasing. According to a survey, one in six people

situation that has no solution or tackling a problem that cannot

secular pleasure, and appears to be satisfied with life, but canwill be diagnosed with depression at least once. In manybe improved despite effort.

also become depressed. The people around may not noticecases, the cause of stress is interaction of living conditions anddepression in such individuals.

personality. In other words, what is increasing is psychogenic
stress caused by stress.

①Experience of loss
Loss of loved ones, essential items, position, or environment is③Nervous and pessimistic

painful. One must become accustomed to a feeling of loss, as

Never confident, bothered by small things, and basicallyif there is a hole in the chest. There may be regret, or anger

pessimistic. Pessimistic about the future, expects the worst,

against oneself, situation, or fate. It takes time to get used to anegative, and nervous. When these tendencies are strong, andEliminating the cause of disease is the foundation of aloss, and some fail to adapt and become depressed.

interfere with daily life, it is diagnosed as neurosis. Iftreatment. However, a stressful living environment andmelancholy is notable, it is diagnosed as depressive neurosis

relationship are difficult to improve. Once someone becomesor neurotic depression.

unwell enough to be diagnosed with depression, what they

②Failure to adapt to environment

３. Treatment for depression

used to be able to handle becomes difficult to manage.

This is adjustment disorder. One cannot adjust to a new living
environment and relationship, become stressed, and start to④Overestimates oneself, and wants to be evaluated highly by others

To recover, sufficient rest is necessary, but the recovery could

experience anxiety and depression. In many cases, people feel

Highly conceited and overestimates oneself. Wants to be

take much longer than one expects, such as several months.

this way for a while when their personality and environment areevaluated highly by others.

Drug treatment could lessen the symptoms and speed up therecovery.

not well-suited. Suicide due to overwork is an issue, but if one
overworks mentally and physically all day and gets insufficient

These wishes usually do not come true, and repeatedamount of sleep for recovery, everyone feels fatigue and loss

disappointment and humiliation lead to depression.

improvement in the causes.

of motivation. If one still cannot get any rest, physicalun-wellness will lead to depression.

Depression can be cured with sufficient rest, treatment, andPersonalities ① and ② are known to be prone to severe

Atsushi ICHIMIYA, March 2016