Savannah Weishaar
Reporter
Parkland College will be having a free educational session in observance of National Depression Screening Day on Oct. 17
From 12:00pm-1:00pm on Oct. 17 in room U140 Parkland will be hosting a free informational session. The session will start with a 30 minute video about depression, followed by discussion with an expert panel. During the discussion students will be given information about where to get a free depression screening at Parkland. There will also be time for people to ask any questions they may have regarding depression, the screening, or treatment options. For those interested in the free depression screening, counselors at Parkland will offer recommendations about further treatment if it is needed. This event is open to the not only students but the public as well. However, it is especially important for students to take care of their mental health. Students experiencing any of the following symptoms are strongly urged to attend:
- changes in eating and sleeping patterns
- irritability
- prolonged sadness
- loss of energy
- feelings of hopelessness
- inability to concentrate
- loss of interest in daily activities
- social withdrawal
- unexplained aches and pains
- recurring thoughts of suicide
These symptoms could possibly be indicators of mild to severe depression. It is often said that many students do not seek help because they feel embarrassed or ashamed. If this is the case, students should know that they are not alone in the battle with depression. According to an article written by professor of psychiatry and neuroscience David Rosenberg, “anxiety and depression are the top reasons that college students seek counseling”. Rosenberg also states that a shocking 1 in 5 college students suffer from depression. College students are obviously at high risk for depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, out of all the varieties of demographics including sex, age, and race, the age range of 18-25 had the highest percentage (10.9%) regarding the prevalence of a major depressive episode in 2016.
If students are unable to attend the the free screening, counseling services are offered at Parkland and in the Champaign area year round. The Parkland Mental Health Counseling page states “Short-term, solution-focused, and confidential mental health counseling is provided for currently enrolled students by professional faculty counselors. Referrals are made to community agencies when appropriate. Counselors also provide psycho-educational workshops on a variety of topics. Students experiencing significant distress are seen as soon as possible.” Counseling Services is currently providing a two-part psycho-educational workshop for students struggling with everyday stress. According to the Parkland page, the workshop is meant to “Manage stress, anxiety, and other emotions productively, learn mindfulness skills that can have a positive impact in the classroom and in your relationships, and identify what’s most important to you and prioritize accordingly.” This workshop is open to any Parkland student that is able to attend both days of the session. There are two sessions coming up for students to attend–one on Wednesday Oct 24 and 31 from 1:00pm-2:00pm with Angela Jancola and another one Tuesday Nov. 13 and 20 from 10:00am-11:00am with Katie Schacht. The Parkland Women’s Soccer Team was required to attend this workshop in the summer. Many of the players found it helpful for learning how to balance being a student as well as an athlete. This is just one way in which this program can be beneficial to any and all students struggling.
Parkland counselors are available Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. Students can stop by U268 or call 217-351-2219 if they have questions of would like to schedule an appointment with a counselor. The Champaign County Crisis Hotline is open 24 hours a day in case of emergencies.