It’s no secret that the uncertainty, isolation, and constant conflict of the Covid era is having lasting effects of our population as a whole. Even as we walk to class, meet for lunch or attend a student life event, for many, the scars are still tender.
College students face numerous tests on their mental health. It’s a transitional time in life where financial pressures, academic and familial obligations can take a toll on anyone.
There are mental health resources available on campus. Pierce College provides short-term counseling services to enrolled students free of charge. talk-therapy can help students address personal and emotional issues.
Even with the aid of metal health processionals. chronic depression can make sufferers feel helpless and lonely. The brain is physically altered by these negative thought habits and changing the patterns might be as simple as trying something new. Then do it again. And again. And again.
Learning to play the piano has been a transformative journey for me. It gave me something positive to focus on, a reason to get out of bed each day.
— Sarah Thompson
Participants diagnosed with chronic depression enrolled in various skill-based activities, ranging from art and music to coding and cooking. Over the course of the study participants consistently reported a noticeable improvement in mood and a reduction in feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
The therapeutic benefits of acquiring new skills extend beyond the immediate sense of achievement. Participants reported an enhanced sense of purpose, increased self-esteem, and a greater ability to cope with stress. This holistic approach to mental health treatments has the potential to complement existing treatments.
“When a person is willing to learn a new skill, it changes the emotional climate of their days, and is often a first step in managing depression.”
— Lois Ridgley, MS LMFT
The groundbreaking research raises questions about the traditional approaches to managing chronic depression, paving the way for a more diversified and personalized approach to mental health care.
As society wrestles with increasing mental health challenges, the prospect of a simple and effective new tool, learning a new skill, emerges as a beacon of hope for those seeking to help themselves in finding effective, sustainable ways to overcome chronic depression.
