Depression and Other Mood Disorders

If you are struggling with depression or difficult mood swings, you are not alone, and help is available right on campus.

Occasional short-term changes in mood (feelings of sadness, stress and gloom, feelings of euphoria and elation) are a normal part of life—often a reaction to changing circumstances in your life. But if mood symptoms disrupt your daily activities and persist for weeks on end, you may be dealing with a mood disorder.

Mood disorders include depression, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Whether you are experiencing mood changes related to life events or changes or a more pervasive sense of depression, we are here to help.

If you are a UO student experiencing difficult mental health symptoms and need support, the best place to start is with the Mental Health Access Team (MHAT). You can call 541-346-3227 or just drop by University Health Services for a same-day MHAT evaluation. This team will work with you to evaluate your needs, provide immediate help, and decide the best next steps to support your mental health. Many mental health issues can be successfully treated with short-term psychotherapy through UHS Counseling Services. If needed, the MHAT team can schedule you to see a provider in the primary care clinic or facilitate a referral to our psychiatry team.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and UHS is closed, you can reach the UHS mental health crisis line at 541-346-3227. To connect with the three-digit national crisis and suicide lifeline, call 988.

There are resources and information for coping with mental health concerns on the Counseling Services website.

For more information on depression, bipolar, and other mood disorders: