Depression is a common problem among college students, which has a negative impact on mental health and academic performance. The study explored the alleviating effects of legal education and psychological counseling on depression in college students and provided evidence for formulating intervention measures in colleges and universities.

200 students from a university in 2023 were selected to participate in this study. They were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group received legal education and psychological counseling, while the control group only received conventional legal education. The degree of depression was assessed by the Self-Rating Depression Scale (DSM-IV). After data collection, SPSS23.0 was used for statistical analysis and T-test was used to compare the differences in depression scores between the two groups.

The depression score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (t=2.56, P<0.05). The mean and standard deviation of depression scores were 18.32 and 3.42 respectively. The mean depression score of the control group was 21.78, and the standard deviation was 4.12.

The combination of legal education and psychological counseling in colleges and universities can significantly alleviate the depression of students. The results emphasize the importance of mental health intervention. Colleges and universities should strengthen legal education and psychological counseling to help students cope with depression. The study provides scientific basis for formulating effective psychological intervention measures and has positive significance for promoting students’ psychological well-being.