Free mental health screening offered on campus Oct. 22

Read more: Mental Health- A serious and important issue

By Kyle Lentsch

The National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) will be held on Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Nath Career and Academic Planning Center.

Mental health is a very serious and important subject to be knowledgeable about and aware of. That is why the NCC Counseling department is hosting the NDSD, along with multiple sites across the country
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Last year, 159 students and staff from NCC participated in the screenings. The confidential screenings resulted in 45 individuals with symptoms consistent with depression, 24 should be further evaluated for bipolar disorder, 44 had symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder and 13 had symptoms that corresponded with PTSD.

“Our goal is not to diagnose, but to make them aware of the possible need to seek out further assistance,” said Valerie Dean NCC counselor, when offering these words of advice to anyone out there that is considering getting screened on NDSD.

“We would like students to eventually view seeking out assistance for their mental health concerns as no different than getting a blood pressure screening,” said Dean. Therefore, it is also possible to come in and just check out the scene without getting screened, as well as pick up available information.

The screening is free, open to the public, and refreshments will be served. Licensed mental health specialists from the community will be on sight and participating.

For any NCC community members unable to attend the NDSD on Oct. 22, a limited screening test is available online through the NCC website. However, it is recommended to come in person and experience the atmosphere and onsite support that is offered.

Taking care of yourself not only includes physically, but mentally as well. Everyone is encouraged to make the right choice and come and participate in the free National Depression Screening Day

Mental Health: A serious and important issue

By Kyle Lentsch

There has been a dramatic increase seen in college students’ mental health issues for the past 13 years. More students are now seeking help for depression, thoughts of suicide, and sexual assaults, as reported by the Midwestern University Counseling Center study.

College students frequently have more complex problems today than they did over a decade ago, which includes the typical, expected college student problems like difficulties in relationships and developmental issues. It also involves the more severe problems, such as depression, sexual assault, and thoughts of suicide.

The study covered 13,257 students who were diagnosed with symptoms or behaviors of depression during a 13-year period. The findings were reported in the Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, journal of the American Psychological Association (APA), Feb. 2003
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The number of students seen with depression had doubled while the number of suicidal students tripled that year. The number of students seen after a sexual assault had quadrupled, said psychologist Sherry A. Benton, Ph.D., of Kansas State University.

“Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health problems on college campuses,” said Chris Brownson, director of the University of Texas Counseling and Mental Health Center, Austin, Texas. “Forty million U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder, and 75 percent of them experience their first episode of anxiety by age 22.”

A recent comprehensive study of suicidal thinking among 26,000 college students from 70 colleges, found that more than half had considered suicide at some point during their lifetime. Results were presented by the National Research Consortium of Counseling Centers in Higher Education, based at the University of Texas, Austin campus, on Aug. 17.

For more information on suicidal help, visit UT’s website.