Events planned for National Depression Screening Day

Balancing homework, a job and relationships is a chaotic lifestyle for many IU students. Each year, the college stresses can take their toll. That's why for the past decade, IU has taken part in National Depression Screening Day, a nationwide program aimed at providing information on the signs, symptoms and treatment of depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health disorders, said Carolyn Lee, chief psychologist for IU Counseling and psychological services.\nThursday, employees will present the public with handouts about depression and offer students the opportunity to take a free, five-minute screening between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at two booths -- one in Woodburn Hall the other in the School of Education Atrium. \n"The screening consists of a list of questions that indicate if someone would benefit from talking to someone further," Lee said. "We typically screen between 200 and 300 people of whom around 100 are recommended to speak to someone further."\nCounseling services are regularly available to IU students enrolled in at least one credit hour, Lee said. CAPS provides individual and group counseling, psychiatric consultation as well as counseling for couples. With their required health fee, students are entitled to two free sessions per semester with each additional 50-minute session costing $14.00. \nDepression affects 19- to 24-year-olds most frequently, according to the International Society for Mental Health. Lee said CAPS sees a linear increase in the number of students it treats as their class standing rises. In other words, more IU seniors battle symptoms of depression than freshman. \nJunior Meg Poulelis, whose older sister has battled seasonal depression, said she is planning to visit a booth Thursday to receive more information on treatment options. \n"I am glad the University offers students someone to talk to because this service would have benefited my sister," Poulelis said. \nIn addition to screenings on campus, John Head, journalist and author of the book "Standing in the Shadows: Black Men and Depression," will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Neal-Marshall Grand Hall. Head will address the personal and social implications of depression. The event is free and open to the public.\n"Depression is not respectful of age, gender or race," Lee said. She said CAPS hopes Thursday's booths will help people understand the frequency of depression and educate them about resources available to help them.