Given the stresses of university life, students are especially susceptible to drug abuse. A variety of substances are available that provide escape from pressing demands. These drugs soon create their own set of problems in the form of addiction, accident proneness, and poor health. Alcohol and other drug-related accidents remain the greatest single cause of preventable death among college students. They show a multitude of symptoms, e.g., guilt, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and inadequacy as well as physical symptoms such as decreased or increased appetite, difficulty staying asleep, early awakening, low interest in daily activities.
Depressed students are frequently lethargic, but sometimes depression is accompanied by agitation.
Helping someone who is suicidal is hard, demanding, and draining work. If you observe any of the following warning signs that might indicate suicidal risk, communicate them to a mental health professional as soon as possible. Presence of a plan to harm self. Suicide plan is specific as to time, place, notes already written. High stress due to grief, illness, loss of new job, academic difficulty, etc.