Stricken student needs help with depression (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
laid low
'stricken' is the definition.
('laid low' can be a synonym of 'stricken')
'student needs help with depression' is the wordplay.
'student' becomes 'l' (as in L-plates for learner drivers).
'needs help' becomes 'aid' ('aid' can be a synonym of 'help'. I am not sure about the 'needs' bit.**).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'depression' becomes 'low' ('low' can be a synonym of 'depression').
'l'+'aid'+'low'='LAID LOW'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laid low that I've seen before include "Brought down" , "Felled" , "Put out of action by illness" , "Stricken" , "Hid away" .)