Every year the Counseling Center offers free depression screenings to ETSU students. This year’s screenings will be offered Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Culp Center.
The completely confidential screenings take about five minutes to complete. Students who participate fill out questions on a sheet of paper before turning it in to a center staff member.
“It’s immediate feedback,” said Kim Bushore-Maki, coordinator of outreach programs for the Counseling Center. “Based on your answers, a counselor determines if there is a mood or anxiety problem, and will be there to talk to you.”
Students can also pick up information about depression and anxiety disorders if they do not want to participate in the screenings.
According to a 2005 study by the American College Health Association, 15 percent of students have been professionally diagnosed with depression, up from 10 percent in 2000.
Bushore-Maki believes this is partially because students are faced with a lot of pressure and are constantly forced to make tough decisions. She says the combination of increasing pressure with not knowing how to handle these problems causes a lot of stress for students.
“The number one reason students come to the Counseling Center is for mood or anxiety problems, and more and more come each year,” she said.
Although counselors are trained in how to deal with mood disorders, they are not the only people who can help. Bushore-Maki says that trusted friends, ministers and doctors are all good people to talk to if you think you may have a problem.
Symptoms of depression include a lack of energy, changes in sleeping or eating patterns, having trouble concentrating or remembering things and having suicidal thoughts. Senior Sarah Hodges, a pre-business major, has seen these symptoms before.
“I lost a friend to suicide because he was so depressed about his life,” Hodges said. “People should watch for warning signs in their friends and try to get them help if they can,” she said.
Bushore-Maki warns, though, that you can’t make someone get help. She says to offer them help if they want it, and that giving support is the best thing. “Learning strategies that will reduce stress and talking about old hurts and pains can help people find healthy ways to cope,” she said. “Even though it is a disease, medications are a very small part of the solution.”
Although there will only be one day of screenings, the Counseling Center is always available for free and confidential counseling for students. Call 439-4841 to schedule an appointment. Offices are located on the third floor of the old College of Medicine building, Room 303.

Author