So this is something that is the first question that comes up in training with situations like this. The idea of trust and bond between teacher and student. Yes, it absolutely sucks to feel like you are violating a student's trust to tell you something intimate. And yes, you are in a way but I remind all faculty in the training that you are paid to teach the student your curriculum, you are not paid to be the student's priest.

Yes, it is a huge problem in academia right now is the age of disclosure. We have many students who have no problem doing what we are calling "trauma dumping" into the classroom space with faculty and fellow students. And just to clarify, I don't think student depression means you cc the dean of students but contact mental health services or whoever is responsible for that and that sometimes includes your Dean of student's office. You are correct, no dean is going to deal with a report of depression. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

I'm just saying in cases of disclosed mental health issues and I'd like to think we agree, OP should respond kindly to the student but also loop in whatever admin department addresses and checks this type of issue and decides if it is an issue or not and decide how to move forward. OP should not just keep this to themselves and the student.

Yes, the student may feel betrayed or annoyed or violated but we are not their parents, their confessor or even their friend. We are their teachers. I agree we should look out for our students and we do that best by keeping mental health issues in the hands of the professionals at our institution and following academic policy where it exists for these situations.