I am writing to you today because our colleges and universities across the country are facing a serious problem. The number of depressed students is increasing. These students are unable to get the help they deserve and, more importantly, need. These institutions are not adequately equipped to adequately handle this problem. Of 8,500 students who participated in the study, only 22% of them received minimally adequate treatment, defined as “at least two months of antidepressant use plus at least three follow-up visits to discuss medications or at least seven related counseling sessions to mental health." ” (DeBenedette, 2012). Mental health is an integral part of our daily lives. When our mind cannot function properly, we cannot live our life to its fullest potential. Depression is defined as a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, or frustration interfere with daily life for a long period of time. College students face many stresses during their academic careers. Getting homework done on time, studying for an exam, doing well in class are just a few examples of these pressures.Academic performance is a leading cause of depression among college students (Dyson and Renk, 2006).Students with poor academic performance are more likely to develop depressive symptoms of not fitting in or not mattering. It was found that “self-esteem and mattering among college students were important for psychological well-being” (Dixon and Kurpius, 2008). Students entering university life for the first time are thrown into a world made up of many different types of people and it is difficult for them to find their place. Students try to compensate for this by taking on too many tasks and… halfway through an assignment… they may perform better academically. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to present this project in person in April. Works Cited Borchard, Therese J. (2010). College Depression Statistics [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2010/09/02/statistics-about-college-depression/DeBenedette, Valerie. (2012). Few depressed college students receive adequate treatment. Retrieved from http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-depressed-college-students-adequate.html.Dixon, S. K., & Kurpius, E. S. (2008). Depression and college stress among college students: Do importance and self-esteem make a difference? . Journal of College Student Development, 49, 412-424. Dyson, R., & Renk, K. (2006). Freshmen's adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping skills. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 1231-1244.