January 2004

Up for discussion: Expectations and depression

	Emil Rodolfa of the Counseling Center encourages parents to remind their students that life is about more than academics. (Debbie Aldridge/UC Davis)

University life may seem carefree to many, but it is often a time filled with pressure and anxiety, which, left unchecked, can lead to depression.

High achievers, like the students at UC Davis, are not immune to this anxiety. In fact, says Emil Rodolfa, director of the campus Counseling Center, some students accustomed to academic success may be even more at risk because they may not be equipped to handle setbacks.

"I think one of the things students really do is push themselves to the limit," Rodolfa says. "Students put a lot of expectations on themselves and those expectations affect how they perceive themselves."

Often, he says, students see themselves in black and white: success equals perfection, and even the smallest failure means inadequacy.

The Counseling Center seeks to address anxiety, depression and other mental health issues from a variety of angles.

The Mind/Body Gym is one example. Located in what's known as The House, the gym's focus is mental fitness. It includes a total-body massage chair; guided-imagery CDs and tapes; a lightbox for combating seasonal affective disorder; and a wide assortment of brochures, books, videotapes and articles on how to take care of one's mental health.

How parents can help

Parents can play a big role in their student's well being by simply recognizing that their child is concerned about disappointing them, Rodolfa says.

"One of the most important things parents want for their children is for them to be happy," he says. "But, sometimes, students lose sight of that, so parents need to reinforce that idea."

He also encourages parents to remind their students that life is about more than academics. A variety of activities -- social, athletic and spiritual, for example -- help to make a well-rounded student.

The Counseling Center is staffed with 15 clinicians and 20 mental-health providers-in-training to offer free counseling services to students. Rodolfa says the number of students using the center's services has risen dramatically in recent years, increasing by almost 40 percent since 1999-2000. He expects about 2,700 students to be seen at the center this year.

Rodolfa stresses that if parents are concerned about a student, the Counseling Center can offer assistance. That may mean helping parents talk to their children or providing them with information about counseling services that are available to students.

Top of page

Return to previous page