Health assessments screen students for depression, anxiety
With final exams, program acceptance letters and graduation just around the corner, student stress on campus is about to reach its peak.
It's a busy time of year for USC's Counseling and Human Development Center and an opportune time for its biannual free mental health screening, hosted Wednesday in the Russell House Lobby in partnership with Changing Carolina.
Passing students were able to fill out a mental health self-assessment to review in a personal follow-up session with one of USC's professional counselors. The assessments screened for depression, bipolar disorder, thoughts of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder, but these aren't the only issues that warrant a counseling session, according to Suicide Prevention Services Coordinator Jennifer Myers.
"Counseling is perceived as being only for big problems, but really it deals with all types of stress, from 'I failed a test' to having significant depression or anxiety," Myers said. "Mental health issues peak in the spring, and the combination of that plus school stress can be a challenge."
Students have access to 12 free counseling sessions per academic year paid for by the student health fee. With 23 counselors, including trainees, USC's Counseling Center held appointments with 2,600 students during the 2010–11 academic year and is on track to see 3,000 this year.
While stress and anxiety are some of the most common issues on college campuses, Myers said substance abuse and eating disorders are some of the more severe in how they affect students' well-being and academic performance.
It's a major concern for Changing Carolina, which will be funded next year by the Thomson Student Health Center. Currently funded by a portion of the student activity fee, Changing Carolina hosts a "De-Stress Fest" at the end of each semester, as well as Carolina Beautiful Week to promote mental health as a necessary part of well-being.
"There's a stigma associated with mental health problems, but it's also a growing problem on campus," third-year sociology student Ebony Langhorne said. "We're trying to get rid of that stigma and have people screened. Hopefully, by getting the word out people will realize they're not required to have a major disorder to get help."
First-time appointments with a USC counselor can be made after an initial 15-minute phone screening with the Counseling Center.