Depression screening available today

Thursday is National Depression Screening Day, and as a part of a national initiative, ISU's Student Counseling Center is screening ISU community members to bring depression-related illness to the forefront. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Hulman Memorial Student Union, a representative from the Student Counseling Center will offer students and other ISU community members the opportunity to take a short depression screening. Aimee Janssen-Robinson, outreach educator for the Student Counseling Center, said Monday, the screening could be taken anonymously. "It's just a brief questionnaire that they can answer," she said. "No name, no ID number." Aside from the screenings, the Student Counseling Center, which has six licensed counselors for students to make appointments with, will have several mental health resources available in the forms of fliers and pamphlets. "This is part of a nationwide depression screening," Janssen-Robinson said. "We'll have plenty of resources at the table." That includes resources in the Terre Haute community as well as through the Student Counseling Center. "Some people may not be comfortable staying on campus," she said. Janssen-Robinson said some of the signs of depression include feeling depressed, difficulty concentrating, having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, loss of interest in activities, low self-esteem and excessive fatigue. Janssen-Robinson said appetite fluctuation could also be a sign of depression; either the loss of or increase in appetite. "Some people find comfort in eating," she said. Both of these can have an effect on the person's weight and self-esteem, she said. Janssen-Robinson said that if people are uncomfortable taking the short questionnaire in public, the Web site www.mentalhealthscreening.org offers another alternative. "If they would rather do it online," Janssen-Robinson said, "they do have that option." Janssen-Robinson said students could make an appointment with a counselor get more information about depression, by calling the Student Counseling Center at 237-3939. The service is free for ISU students.