Depression Prevalent on Campus

Weaver Wellness Counseling Center is currently on course to see twice the number of clients it saw last year, and as if that isn't shocking enough, 25 percent of new arrivals to Eastern Mennonite University came in already being prescribed for some form of depression medication.

EMU is not alone. Back in 2001, according to an article in Psychology Today, 85 percent of North American counseling centers reported an increase in severe psychological problems. In January 2005, a Presidential Task Force on Mental Health on College Campuses was formed by American Psychiatric Association (APA) past president, Michelle B. Riba. The task force led APA's effort to enhance awareness about college mental health issues and offered support to psychiatrists working in college health settings.

An APA news release reported that nearly half of all college students report feeling so depressed that they had trouble functioning, and 15 percent meet the criteria for clinical depression. According to Pam Comer, director of the Weaver Counseling Center, there are two kinds of depression. One is situational depression where there may be a person feeling down, talks to friends, does something that will raise their spirits and becomes better. Situational depression is not clinically diagnosed.

The other is clinical depression. It is diagnosable and could be described as depression that has been present for a duration of time, eventually affecting your normal functioning. It is essentially a biological condition that adversely changes a person's chemical makeup. Clinical depression is broken down on a scale, from mild to acute.

Acute clinical depression is the point that one cannot rise out of bed and is in need of hospitalization. The counseling center is currently seeing record numbers of students in this category, "We have more than doubled the number of sessions that we offer to clients," says Comer. With three graduate counselors and two part-time staff putting in about 32 hours each week per counselor (and increasing to 40 hours weekly), the center has its hands full. Pam points out that the prevalence of depression is increasing and number are on the rise.

Why? Pam Comer suggests the following, Twenty-five percent of students that arriving at EMU are already on some form of depression medication, and it is becoming a growing trend. About 10 to 15 years ago, physical violence and sexual assault were on the rise. "Several of the students we are seeing today are from that generation," says Comer, "and we are just beginning to see the effects.

In an article in Health Minute, focusing on students at Michigan University, Ann Arbor. depression was cited as being brought on by a combination of the student's vulnerable age and the stress and demands of college life. It can strike for the first time in college and come back to haunt those that had dealt with it earlier in their high schools.

Although it sounds like there is a lot to combat, there is a lot that has already been done to cater to individuals who may be experiencing any of the above symptoms or feeling overwhelmed by the experience at EMU, says Comer.

To begin with the Counseling Center has an open door policy regarding anyone needing assistance. It even offers six free counseling sessions. Counseling services also offers free depression screening every year and is always available in the counseling center at any time.

Five counselors stand ready and willing to see anyone on campus who may be experiencing depression and needs some assistance. Another key point is that due to the increasing volume of clients, the Center counselors are increasing their hours from 32 to 40 hours per week.

"When people do not have access to interventions, a lot becomes worse which leads to high risk situations arising. If you have any of the symptoms and have been struggling for over two weeks, you need to at least get an assessment,"she says. "Medication may be necessary in situations that exhibit high risk, but at a continuum, it is important to finish your dose."

Comer offers some tips on how to get help: "Most important is to get assessed, here or at home with a family physician, get enough rest, good nutrition and a lot of fluids, minimizing stress and activities that may cause you to overcommit, setting up boundaries and stay committed to these boundaries and get an inner circle to open up to."

She cautions against waiting. "If you think you might be depressed, have it checked out! Depression is very treatable. But, left untreated depression can rob you of precious time, relationships, grades and your overall sense of well-being. In other words, it steals your life. Tell someone or come see us. You are not alone. We can help."