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The statistics speak for themselves.
Clinical depression affects 10 million Americans in any given year, and one-fourth of all women will suffer at least one occurrence of depression in their lifetimes. One-third of all college women suffer from depression.
More than 2.5 million women experience some form of violence each year, and nearly two of every three of these women are attacked by a relative or someone they know. By some estimates, one in four women will be attacked during her college career.
Almost all of us, at one time or another, either will be personally affected by these issues or know someone who is. Will we know what to do? Will we know how to react? Will we know how to seek help, for ourselves or for others?
DEPRESSION - KNOW THE SIGNS ...
- Continual feelings of sadness, emptiness and helplessness that seem to have no cause
- Loss of interest or pleasure in ordinary activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue
- Sleep and/or eating problems
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
- Irritability, excessive crying
- Chronic physical aches and pains that do not go away
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
IF A FRIEND IS IN NEED, KNOW HOW TO REACT ...
- Listen, ask open-ended questions and try not to fill silences.
- Educate yourself about her problem, and use what you learn to discuss how she might approach the difficulties in her life.
- Be yourself. Be honest about how you are feeling if you are anxious or concerned about her.
- Encourage her to seek help. Give her referrals and offer to go with her to a counseling session.
- Take care of yourself as well. Finding your own sources of support will enable you to better support your friend.
KNOW WHAT TRI DELTA IS DOING TO HELP ...
- Through Tri Delta’s partnership with the Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health, each collegiate chapter received Get Real: Straight Talk About Women’s Health. The video and guide address clinical and manic depression and sexual harassment and violence.
- The Delta Delta Delta Foundation awards 10 grants each year to Universities to host Andrea Cooper’s presentation of Kristin’s Story on their campus. The grant covers Andrea’s presentation fee and travel expenses. If you are interested in applying for a grant, click here.
- A new module about dating violence will soon be added to Tri Delta’s Member Development Module. We encourage our chapters take advantage of this helpful and educational resource. We hope that it will enhance dialogue concerning dating violence amongst our members.
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