A record number of students arrived at Eastern for the first time this semester, and, while starting college can be an exciting experience, it can also be a high-stress time.

High stress can lead freshmen and transfer students who have a hard time adjusting to experience homesickness or depression. While the symptoms of these sicknesses can look similar, it is important to know the difference. Treatment of the two illnesses differs, and each can have very different consequences.

Many students experience homesickness when they move away from their comfort zones, said David Onestak, director of counseling services.

New students away from home for the first time are especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and sadness that can last as little as a few weeks or as long as a whole semester. New students are far from their family, friends and regular routines which aggravate old feelings or create new issues.

Onestak said he stresses to parents of freshmen that physiologists have proven problems can develop for the first time and existing problems can worsen in times of stress, change and transition. For many, attending college for the first time can be a milestone of change and transition.

Students coming to a university for the first time may feel out of their element after attending high school and possible grammar school with the same groups of people for so long, Onestak said.

Those who were once near the top of their class academically or who once had an established group of close friends may come to Eastern and find their new world is very different. They can struggle in classes or have trouble making friends or warming up to new people.

“If someone is going to struggle, it’s reasonable to think freshman year it will come up,” he said.

Adjustment to college life can take as long as a semester, but as long as symptoms stay at a low grade, a high level of concern is not necessary. Onestak said homesickness can be a problem when students stop going to class, start to fall behind in their studies and stop trying to make campus like a second home.

“If the decision is to go home every weekend, that could be problematic,” he said.

However, the symptoms of homesickness can be remarkably similar to those of depression and, if homesickness intensifies, it can act as a trigger or a hint of underlying depression.

He said being able to identify depression in yourself or someone else is important to maintaining a healthy mindset and preventing the possibility of suicidal thoughts or actions.

To treat homesickness, Onestak said students should make a conscious effort to become involved and take responsibility seriously. Going to class and keeping up with homework can help relieve some of the stress that may aggravate homesickness.

Also, getting to know professors even if there are no academic issues yet may help in the future, Onestak said. The more comfortable the student and teacher relationship becomes, the more understanding teachers will be if a student starts to struggle, he said.

Finally, joining groups and participating in activities is key for someone suffering from homesickness. Becoming involved builds an attachment to people on campus, brings a sense of community and acts as a way to make new friends, he said.

Because homesickness is a relatively short-term feeling in most cases, solutions can come more naturally to students. The more time they spend away from home, the easier it is to fall into a new routine, Onestak said.

Treating depression, however, may mean taking more drastic steps.

Signs of depression can look similar to symptoms of homesickness, but they are prolonged signs and often more severe. Dramatic fall-off in academic performance, loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities, wanting to avoid people and even friends and unexplained crying for more than one or two weeks are signs of depression.

It’s important to be able to identify the difference between homesickness and depression because, left untreated, depression can lead to suicide.

Onestak said if students are feeling depressed, they should seek counseling at the counseling center.

“It takes a lot of courage to say I’m going to work on these things,” he said.

Students with friends dealing with depression should also look out for signs of suicidal thoughts. They should be aware of threats, feelings of hopelessness and impulsive behavior.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” Onestak said.

Counseling and proper treatment can help depressed people find other solutions to their problems.

“Ultimately the goal is to get that student into the counseling center,” Onestak said.