It is normal, for example, to feel depressed after a loss of a significant relationship, a job, and an unexpectedly low grade in a course. Depression is the number one problem of US students seeking help at college and university counseling centers, including the Rice Counseling Center.
University students are vulnerable to depression.
To top it off, these challenges are occurring at a time when you are still in the process of consolidating your identity and personal values. Some of you may find that your previous coping mechanisms do not serve you well in this environment. The new challenges of college or graduate school may require different strategies for managing them. Some students may also be more vulnerable to depression than others due to genetic factors. A pattern of depression prevails in some families.