Depression awareness day to be Thursday

Many students around the country suffer from depression but do not realize it. IU’s Counseling and Psychological Services will try to help change that fact on Thursday when it takes part in the National Depression Screening and Awareness Day.\nFrom 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Counseling and Psychological Services will hold the event in three locations around campus: the Kelley School of Business, the School of Education’s atrium and Woodburn Hall, said psychology intern Stephen Wright.\nThe event will have a number of clinicians available, in addition to information brochures about depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Carolyn Lee, chief psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services, said there will be a questionnaire, which looks at symptoms of depression. Results and feedback will be available on the questionnaire scores.\nStudents will be unable to make an appointment while they are at the event, but can schedule one over the phone or by visiting Counseling and Psychological Services. Lee said the event will also feature information about the Center for Human Growth and other places off campus where students can seek further assistance. \nLee said the awareness and screening day is important because so many students suffer from depression. Symptoms of the disorder include a feeling of helplessness or hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, sleeping too much or not enough and not attending class, Wright said.\n“In college and in life in general, I think it’s easy to not notice the signs of depression,” senior Michelle McIntyre said. “Many people, myself included, wouldn’t really know what depression is.”\nLee said that if students suspect they may have depression, the first thing they can do is come to the screening day and get an assessment, which will show if they need counseling or therapy. \n“A lot of students, one out of seven, have significant levels of depression,” Lee said. “Often those problems don’t resolve themselves easily.”\nDepression is a highly treatable condition, and once treated, a majority of patients can get better fairly quickly, Lee said. She added that the best treatment is combining medication and counseling. \nFor more information on depression or to make an appointment, call Counseling and Psychological Services at 855-5711.