The use of antidepressants and counselling for depression : the lived experience of post-secondary students and counsellors

This study explored the perceptions of post-secondary students and counsellors towards the use of antidepressants and counselling to manage depression. Student depression is increasing and antidepressants appear to be the most frequently used treatment by students. The literature reveals that most depressed students are not accessing campus mental health centres, and counsellors are noting increased severity of illness for those that do seek help. Therefore, in an attempt to gain increased understanding of students who use antidepressants as well as counselling, the student and counsellor perspective is essential. In this study, 10 students and 6 counsellors were interviewed by the researcher. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis guided by van Manen’s (1990) hermeneutic phenomenology was used. Overall, the themes identified aim to represent the lived experience of the students who are living with depression and to better assist counsellors in understanding and developing interventions suited to student need.

Author

• McKay, Bill

• College students --Mental health
• College students -- Mental health services
• College students -- Psychology
• Counseling in higher education
• Antidepressants
• Depression, Mental -- Treatment
• Dissertations, Academic

Identifier

hdl:10133/3239

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/3239