News
Harvard Medical School Cancels Student Groups’ Pro-Palestine Vigil
News
Former FTC Chair Lina Khan Urges Democrats to Rethink Federal Agency Function at IOP Forum
News
Cyanobacteria Advisory Expected To Lift Before Head of the Charles Regatta
News
After QuOffice’s Closure, Its Staff Are No Longer Confidential Resources for Students Reporting Sexual Misconduct
News
Harvard Still On Track To Reach Fossil Fuel-Neutral Status by 2026, Sustainability Report Finds
To the editors:
Lucy Caldwell’s Comment of Mar. 20 (“Depressed?”) contains many misleading and erroneous notions about depression and its treatment.
First, Caldwell suggests that Harvard is attempting to shape its students into a “tribe of perky people gushing” and states “the college is running on antidepressants.” The facts do not back up her suggestion. The number of students who are prescribed antidepressants is very small—approximately 7 percent. Moreover, antidepressant medications have no “street value” since they do not induce what Caldwell describes as a happy feeling. There also can be bothersome side effects. Indeed, only people who are experiencing a significant depression gain any benefit from antidepressant medications.
Second, the number of students who report, at one time or another, feeling significantly depressed at Harvard during their four years here mirrors the national data reported in the National College Health Assessment—namely close to 50 percent. This has been consistent over a number of years. Therefore it is not simply a Harvard phenomenon, but a product of age and difficulties arising from significant changes and challenges.
The biggest obstacle to students and other people seeking help for a significant depression is the notion that what they are experiencing isn’t real or is out of the ordinary and can’t be helped.
PAUL J. BARREIRA
Cambridge, Mass.
March 23, 2006
The writer is Director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Academic Counseling at Harvard University Health Services.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.