Dealing with Depression During University.

Starting Over in a New Country

When I moved to the UK to pursue my master’s, the first couple of months were extremely hard. There were days I couldn’t get out of bed, days when I didn’t want to go outside or days when I just felt empty. If you know me in real life, I am not an introverted person, and I like to be outside as much as possible, so it was particularly jarring for my loved ones back home when I was so down or when I was heavily considering giving up and going back home.

This was the first time my depression had gotten to this point, and while I’ve had high-functioning depression prior to moving, this was the lowest of lows for me. I was really struggling to find where I fit in this new environment because it was so different from the ones I had lived in before.

What really stood out to me was that this was my third time starting over from scratch; I had to find new friends, activities, and restaurants. Additionally, the academic system had changed once more. While some may see this change and welcome it, I was really comfortable where I was before, and while I did choose this, there were many factors that made the change necessary. And most of all, I was far away from my community, something that is extremely important to me.

Understanding Mental Health Challenges

Depression and other mental health issues are some things many don’t understand unless they experience them. It can be dismissed as just in your head and something you can push through to get over, when in reality, it’s not that simple.

Especially when it can even prevent you from pursuing your education to your full capacity. Sometimes it can feel like an absence, draining your motivation to do daily tasks or preventing you from responding to texts from your family. Or sometimes it can be an overwhelming of emotions and erasure of joy or happiness in daily life. There are countless ways to experience it, and it is more common than you think.

Finding Support While Studying

So, how do I deal with depression during university?

It is a hard question to answer, as everyone is different and struggles with different aspects, but there are some general recommendations that will definitely make coping and managing easier.

Having a therapist guide you through your challenges can help a lot. Most universities have a counselling department accessible to students, which is usually free for students.

While it may be a temporary solution, as sessions are not typically long-term, it is a great option to help you understand yourself a bit more and possibly get to the root of what might be happening.

Talking about your problems to a stranger might not be a favourite option for most, but usually getting an outside perspective can help massively.

Staying Connected and Avoiding Isolation

Another suggestion I can offer is to avoid isolating yourself, and trust me, I still struggle with this.

Finding activities, clubs, and social groups where you feel connected can really be the key to lifting you up when you’re down. Staying connected to loved ones back home or wherever else can also help, as it serves as a constant reminder that someone is rooting for you. And coming back to the community, you have us, Cayman Connection.

No matter where you are in the world or in your journey through university, we are here to support you and connect you with others who are having the same experience, to remind you that you are not alone. It is always easier to carry these burdens when you remember that, and we are here for you.

Moving Toward a Better Place

While I cannot say that struggles with depression are completely gone, I am in a much better place now than I was a couple of months ago. I have somewhat settled in now, and that is no small part of the community I have made for myself here, the ones I’ve left behind and Cayman Connection.

My hope is that if you are also struggling with depression or any other mental health issue, you can also get to that better place with whatever tools work for you, and remember it is not a linear path to healing and we all get there in our own time.

Reach Out at Anytime

If you are a Caymanian studying abroad and need support, connection, or simply someone to talk to, Cayman Connection is here for you.

You can also explore our dedicated mental health resource page, Minding Your Mental Health Overseas, or send an email at hello@caymanconnection.org