The University Counseling and Psychological Services screened 16 students for depression yesterday in an event coordinated by Students for Mental Health Awareness.
"Typically we have the highest number of students hospitalized psychiatrically in April," CAPS Assistant Director Lenny Carter said. "We thought this would be a good spot to maybe catch some people before they go into a more severe crisis before the end of the semester, which some students do."
A table set up in Newcomb Hall offered flyers and screening for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.
"They are not really diagnostic tests," Carter said. "These are just indicators that give us sort of an idea or suggestion whether somebody may have symptoms of some of those [disorders]."
Fourth-year College student Sarah Bergkuist is a member of the SMHA who manned the depression screening table yesterday.
"This is an issue that is around Grounds a lot, and people don't want to admit it," Bergkuist said. "It's important to give people the opportunity for screening."
The screening preceded the benefit concert that the SMHA is hosting tonight for suicide prevention.
"The money will go to a lot of organizations that specify different mental disorders," Bergkuist said.
CAPS also holds a depression screening in conjunction with the National Depression Screening Day in October. Last fall, 45 students were screened.
Although National Mental Health month takes place in May, the SMHA decided to hold its event in March when more students were available, SMHA president Matthew Whiting said.
"We are here to publicize mental health issues and let people know about the resources out there and that mental health concerns are serious matters that need to be taken as such," Whiting said.
Carter said students who show symptoms that are consistent with one of the disorders the screening tests for are encouraged to seek help from either Student Health or some other mental health provider.
"I would be happy if we could just get one or two people to get the help that they need," Bergkuist said.
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