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Blues and depression
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Roommate seriously depressed — Is it contagious?
Originally Published: February 04, 1994
~ Last Updated / Reviewed on: May 25, 2007
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Dear Alice,
This is more of a coping question. I am a first-year who applied for a single room over the summer and was denied. I figured that everything would be okay nevertheless. I tried to look at the situation as a character-builder. Well, that is not the case. My roommate is very depressed. I talked to the RA on my floor, but she didn't take any action, except to talk with her. Unfortunately, my roommate is so ashamed of what's happening that she denied the facts, and the RA believed her. No one except me has realized yet that she is sleeping most of the day and all of the night, and that it is indeed a real problem. I have expressed my concern to her and encouraged her to go to counseling services. She went a couple of times and then started canceling appointments left and right. I have worried about her, but I have no backup whatsoever, so there is really nothing I can do to help at this point. We get along relatively well otherwise. Right now, the concern I have is that her depression is pulling me down, too. I literally have not been alone anywhere for more than two to three minutes in weeks. I wanted a single because it's a requirement that I spend some time by myself, and I'm going crazy these days. The lights are always out in the room, and I've noticed that I'm sleeping more than usual myself as the situation has progressed. Also, I am having to deal with some personal issues of my own this semester, and I simply don't have the energy to take care of someone else who desperately wishes that I would do so. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. —Wish I Were a Loner Dear Wish I Were a Loner, There are two levels to your problem: (1) getting help for your roommate, and (2) getting relief and support for your self. Your concerns are certainly legitimate, and the events you've described call for more action than brief conversations, or ones that don't go anywhere. You said that you spoke with the resident adviser (RA) — how about the residence hall director (RD) or residence life coordinator (RLC)? You can also call your school's counseling service just to get their advice on what to do in this tough situation — even what you could say to your roommate: words that might encourage her to get the help she needs. Many counseling services can provide this assistance by phone (if you're at Columbia, Counseling and Psychological Service's (CPS) number is x4-2878), or may have walk-in hours or brief appointments where you could speak with someone in person. Are there any other friends, hall mates, advisors, deans, or relatives of your roommate who could help out — people whom your roommate respects and trusts, and who might even accompany her to resources on- or off-campus? This might help your roommate feel supported while taking some of the onus off of you. Speaking of you, looking to some similar resources might help you to draw some more comfortable boundaries, allowing you to concentrate on your own needs, too. Take some time to focus on your priorities — and how to continue taking care of your roommate while also taking care of yourself. There are many options, such as those for your roommate: call your campus's peer support and referral service/hotline, call a mental health hotline, or go to your school's health and counseling service. If you're at Columbia, try NightLine, a peer support and referral service on campus, at x4-7777 (10 PM - 3 AM everyday). You can also call an anonymous community hotline, such as The Samaritans, at 212.673.3000. Go Ask Alice! is another resource, particularly Friend is depressed in Alice's Emotional Health archive. Find an outlet for your emotions in dealing with your roommate, and a structure that will work so that you can take care of yourself, and get some alone time soon.
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