Counseling offered year round for help with stress, depression

From class work, to exams, to the college social-structure, students face a lot of stress at college. But they don't have to suffer through the stress alone. IU has many resources to help those struggling through depression, mental distress and the pressures of everyday life.\nThe IU Health Center's Counseling and Psychological Services, located on the fourth floor of the IU Health Center, offers two visits per semester to students at no cost if they pay the student health fee. Beyond the initial visits, each session is $14, and a billing plan can be arranged.\nAll employees of CaPS are licensed mental health professionals in the state of Indiana. At least one counselor is always on duty.\nThe Center for Human Growth in room 001 of the education building also offers on-campus support services for students, faculty and staff.\nIndividual counseling sessions are $15, although Gerrett Stenken, assistant director of the Center, said other payment options can be arranged.\nAccording to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 and 24, just behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 1999, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke and chronic lung disease combined.\nBrian O'Donnell, associate professor of psychology, said suicide is usually linked to deep depression.\n"Most commonly, severe depression is associated with thoughts of committing suicide and also with successful suicide attempts," he said.\nO'Donnell said it is critical for people suffering from depression to get help as soon as possible, although the majority of sufferers will not seek help for themselves.\n"Sometimes it may even be necessary to coerce people with depression into getting help," he said.\nO'Donnell said most people who suffer from deep depression have a biological or genetic predisposition, making them more vulnerable to it after experiencing great stress. He said common stressors on college campuses include not meeting academic goals and turbulence in relationships -- especially break-ups.\nThe American Foundation of Suicide Prevention lists a number of warning signs people with suicidal tendencies may exhibit. They include changes in sleeping patterns, loss of interest in usual activities, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, lack of concentration, isolation and indecisiveness.\nThe Foundation estimates that 15 million Americans suffer from depression, and 80 to 90 percent can be effectively treated. Although depression is classified as a treatable disease, more than two in five people believe it is a sign of personal weakness.\nDirector of CaPS Nancy Buckles said a free counseling session will be offered to anyone affected by Monday's suicide attempt at Ballantine Hall. Anyone who has difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, problems focusing and concentrating or feelings of fear, anxiety or depression as a result of the incident should see a counselor immediately, she said.\n"In the light of this unusual traumatic event, there will be no charges for services provided in relationship to the event that occurred," Buckles said. "The counselors are there to help people cope with events like this,"\nCaPS is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.\nThe Center for Human Growth holds regular hours from 1 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Both facilities take scheduled appointments. \n"We want to be here so students can come and talk about how they are dealing with this," Stenken said. "We want to let them know that they don't have to be alone."\n-- Contact general assignments editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu and staff writer Michael Zennie at mzennie@indiana.edu.