King Khalid University
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University Doctor: 1st week of study depression... natural, and may affect employees and parents.
King Khalid University, Media Center
Feeling of depression that may affect students, their parents, and even employees, because of change in the routine, which they used to do during the summer vacation, is something natural. Starting a new study year has its worries, which affect most individuals whatever their age, social or educational status. This is the clarification given by Dr.Bushra Ismail, an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at King Khalid University. She indicated that this case could be named "The depression or worry of a new study year", which is considered a transition period between the vacation time of enjoyment, staying awake for late hours, and traveling, and that of coming back again to the routine that is associated with going to sleep early, and leaving entertainment stuff.
Dr. Ismail also indicated that the issue may affect parents because of the feeling of some financially difficulties, especially that of meeting the necessities of their children, or because of commitments such as dropping off a wife at work place, or the kids at schools, at times that coincide with the father's time of reporting to work, hence usually gets to work late. Dr. Ismail assured that some people could overcome these pressures and even don't feel it, but others may be easily affected by these pressures because of their fragile personalities, consequently they suffer sadness, sorrow, despair, worry, and depression. Those with fragile personalities could also suffer from Spastic Colon, which is one of the most spreading conditions that are frequently noticed when starting a new study year. Dr. Ismail explained that the most important physical symptoms associated with depression in the first week of study are: loss of appetite or the openness of appetite, and this varies, depending on personal life style, sleep disorders, sleeping difficulty, in addition to indigestion, frown face, the slow motion, headache or the pain of Migraine.
On these and other related conditions, Dr. Ismail suggested that the state institutions such as the media, and all relevant ministries must play their roles in raising awareness of this issue by setting up programs and awareness courses. She also pointed out the role of schools and universities in providing comprehensive awareness programs such as setting awareness week for students both male and female, and for parents and teachers, so that recreational activities could permeate the activity, in addition to seminars and presentations, explaining in a simplified form the nature of school and university life. Dr. Ismail has asked for providing a psychological counseling center within each school, to be supervised by specialists, in order to provide counseling and treatment services for such cases.