The number of depressed students coming into the CounselingCenter has remained steady this fall, not dropping off as itnormally does, the director said Monday.
"This year we've been busy through the entire semester," JunePayne, director of the Center, said. "This has been an unusualyear."
Payne said about 20 percent of the Center's clients suffer fromdepression. In the past, this number slightly declined toward theend of the semester, usually after mid-term exams, she said.
According to Jay Zimmerman, associate director of the Center,cases of depression peak in October.
"This year, use (of the Center) has stayed high," Zimmermansaid. "Every fall it seems to get worse."
Universities across the country have seen a jump in the numberof depression cases as well, and Ball State is no different.
Payne said she attended a national conference of campuscounseling centers in November. According to a study releasedduring the conference, 81 percent of directors reported seeingstudents with serious mental problems. Around 77 percent ofdirectors reported severe mental problems in 2002.
Payne said she doesn't know why the number of cases at BallState has increased, though she has her suspicions.
"It's probably a number of factors: academics, familysituations, relationships, but it's something we can't clearlypinpoint."
The increase might be a result of the American lifestyle, SharonBowman, chairwoman of the department of counseling psychology andguidance services, said.
"Many of us are living high-stress lives," Bowman said. "We allget different stressors, but the bigger issue is how we choose tohandle them."
Sometimes, these stressors build up and overwhelm people, Bowmansaid.
College students might be more prone to depression because ofthe stress of academics, friends and separation from home,Zimmerman said, but Bowman said college students aren't more proneto depression than other age groups.
Payne said the Center is better diagnosing and treatingpatients, and more students might be seeking help.
Still, Payne said she is concerned that many students who needcounseling don't get it.
"Many people are afraid to go in and talk to someone they don'tknow," Payne said, "but it's more dangerous to let it go and saferto ask and find out."
Zimmerman said the Center's Web site, www.bsu.edu/students/cpsc,offers a free mental-health survey for those who are nervous aboutgoing to the Center. After completing the survey, students candecide for themselves if they are depressed.
The Center also sends representatives into the classroom todistribute surveys and mental health information, Zimmerman said.The surveys have shown that many students who have depression arenot seeking help, he said.
Many students might not understand what depression is, Zimmermansaid.
"A lot of students get the blues," Zimmerman said. "They'refeeling down about themselves; they get negative, unmotivated. Thislasts just a few days."
Depression, Zimmerman said, is much more intense. Symptomsinclude difficulty concentrating, a change in eating and sleepingpatterns, and a general sadness and loss of interest in once-lovedactivities. These factors usually last for several weeks ormore.
"Life doesn't stop, but we have to," Bowman said. "We need tosit down with somebody and sort it all out."
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