Coping With Depression And Maintaining Mental Health In Nursing School

This information is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a physician or licensed professional about your own situation.

Nursing school can be rewarding, but protecting your mental health through it is a real challenge. Depression in nursing students comes from stacked stressors: a rigorous program on top of jobs, families, households, and social lives. Talking about it openly matters, because it normalizes the struggle and chips away at the stigma around mental health.

How Common Is It

Mental health among nursing students has worsened in recent years. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of more than 26,000 surveyed college students reported feeling depressed. During the pandemic, nursing students in China, Israel, and the U.S. reported more sleep disturbance, depression, stress, and anxiety. In Israel, over 50% of nursing students reported anxiety and depression in the third week of lockdown. A 2018 study found that more than one-third of surveyed nursing students reported feelings of depression.

A 2022 literature review found high rates of maladaptive coping among nursing students, including insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and concluded these behaviors hurt both mental health and academic performance.

Dr. Roseann Colosimo, Ph.D., MSN, RN, a nurse and educator with over 50 years in mental and physical healthcare, puts it this way: "Nursing students are expected to have a tremendous amount of personal growth to handle complex hospital situations, illness, and complex family dynamics."

What Drives It

Nursing school often looks nothing like students' prior school or work experience, and that gap creates stress. Per Dr. Colosimo, the demanding courses and real patient situations can overwhelm students fast. The common pressures:

Academic stress. Courses like anatomy and physiology and organic chemistry run on memorization, labs, and long study hours. The fear of failing weighs heavily.

Work-life balance. Many students juggle coursework with jobs and home life. Self-care, sleep, and relationships are often the first things to slip.

The clinical environment. Caring for sick and injured patients takes an emotional toll. Staff shortages stretch shifts, and a lack of support from colleagues or management makes it worse.

Personal factors. Past trauma, health worries, strained relationships, and missed time with family during long clinical days all add up.

Warning Signs

Mental health problems show up in many ways. Dr. Colosimo cautions against trying to power through them. Acknowledging the signs is itself a form of self-care. Common indicators:

• Confusion or trouble concentrating
• Fatigue or low energy
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
• Changes in eating or sleeping
• Pulling away from friends and family
• Overuse of alcohol or drugs
• Trouble carrying out daily activities
• Extreme mood swings
• Physical symptoms like headaches with no clear cause
• Excessive worry, fear, anxiety, or guilt

How to Cope

"Nursing programs are very fast-paced, and failing courses only increases the stress, depression, and burnout," Dr. Colosimo notes. "Getting help early can help salvage grades and progression in nursing school." Getting ahead of a problem helps you academically and emotionally. Practical steps:

Build a support network. Online or in person, connecting with supportive peers is one of the most important moves you can make.

Practice self-care. Dr. Colosimo suggests brief interventions built around breathing and gratitude, like meditation or a few quiet minutes outside. Even a ten-minute walk counts.

Move your body or practice mindfulness. Physical activity is a healthy outlet, and simple movement breaks up daily stress. Dr. Colosimo notes that visual cues like a pedometer can help. Mindfulness meditation offers similar benefits if exercise isn't an option.

Lean on community or spiritual practice. A faith or spiritual community can be a support network. Reflecting, journaling, or praying through stressful situations can bring clarity.

See a counselor. A licensed professional gives you unbiased support. Many schools and Employee Assistance Programs offer counseling at no cost.

Mental Health Resources

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, 24/7 crisis support.
• Warmlines: An alternative to crisis hotlines for when you need a listener rather than emergency help. Mental Health America maintains a national directory.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Online and in-person support groups, searchable by ZIP code.
• ANA Well-Being Initiative: Free wellness resources for nurses, including a 24/7 helpline and supportive podcasts.
• MentalHealth.gov: Government-backed educational resources organized by population.

Common Questions

How many nursing students are depressed? More than one-third reported feelings of depression in a 2018 study, and that climbed during the pandemic, with over half of surveyed Israeli students reporting anxiety and depression.

Is it normal for nursing school to cause depression? Yes, and you're not alone. It's a physically and mentally demanding environment, and resources exist to help.

How do you get through it mentally? Keep a support system of people who understand the strain, and use professional and peer-run mental health resources.

Are nurses more prone to depression? The emotional toll of patient care, plus staff shortages, long shifts, burnout, and feeling unappreciated, can raise the risk. In some cases depression in nurses signals post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

If you're struggling with your mental health, reaching out to a professional or a trusted person is worth it. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available any time by call or text.