Counseling and Psychological Services hosted a free Mental Health Screening Day in Newcomb Hall Thursday.
CAPS employees screened students in five areas: depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders.
Each screening lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, including brief paperwork and a conversation with a CAPS-employed screener.
CAPS Crisis Services Coordinator Leonard Carter, one of the screeners, said the process was intended to provide students with a general evaluation of their mental health.
“It’s a quick screening device made up of a few forms that people can fill out in five minutes, and then we go over results with them with a brief conversation,” Carter said. "This is not a way to diagnose, it is more a snapshot of a person's mental health.”
Second-year College student Miranda Bellamah participated in free screenings for the first time this year. Bellamah said the screening was a useful way to articulate possible problems.
"I think it's helpful if you don't know if you have a problem, this can help you identify it,” Bellamah said.
Carter said several indicators compel screeners to advise students to seek more comprehensive help.
"There's several things we look for, but one main one is thoughts or attempts of suicide," Carter said. "An analogy I like to use with suicide is that it's like having a bad fever, you want to get it checked out right away and figure out what is causing it. Similar precautions should be taken with suicide.”
Screening can also serve as a way for students to gain access to further mental health resources.
"If we feel [it’s] necessary, we recommend a more formal evaluation," Carter said. "If that’s the case, we give the person information about places where they can get help and various resources on Grounds."
Rather than using screening results for research, CAPS returns the forms back to students for future reference or to share with other mental health professionals the students may seek out.
Second-year College student Kerri Anderson also participated in the screening, saying the process was very open.
"A lot of people see [CAPS] as scary, but they are really there to help you, whether your problem is perceived to be small or is overpowering your life,” she said. "Gather a group of hall-mates, so you can all go together and support mental health awareness."
The screeners donated their time, according to CAPS, so the entire cost of the program was $45, which covered pizza for attendees.
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