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Counseling Center offers help
Some say that college is supposed to be the best years of a person's life.
If this saying is true, then why do most SCSU students always talk about how they feel sad, frustrated and overwhelmed?
While some students must work harder to get through their college years than in generations past, 78 percent suffer from some type of psychological problem during these years. Forty percent of these students at SCSU are on some type of psychiatric medication.
Recent studies done by The Chronicle of Higher Education confirmed a rapid rise in the number of college students taking psychiatric medication, with an increasing number of college students already diagnosed with depression and other psychological problems.
"Nobody really knows what causes depression and anxiety," said Charles Smith, director of SCSU's Counseling, Career and Academic Support Center. "All we know is that there has been an increase over the past 10 years and that students with psychological problems need to seek help.
"Sometimes it has to do with what is currently going on in society, such as insecurity about finding a job, expectations with jobs, needing more education, coming from a chaotic or broken home -- it could be a number of factors."
Other factors that may cause depression and anxiety are the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
"A lot of students try to take away the pain by drinking or doing drugs too much," Smith said.
Smith also pointed out that people with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.
"(They do this) because life and school is a little harder for them," he said. "They try to 'self medicate' themselves."
Although psychologists differentiate the symptoms of depression, common signs are: sadness, feeling "empty," hopelessness, thoughts of death or suicide, guilt and loss of interest in enjoyable activities.
The most common symptoms of anxiety are: fear, stress, nervousness, panic, anxiety attacks and helplessness.
While depression surfaces in everyone's lives, most students tend to experience the signs of it from ages 18 and up, especially among women.
"Students within that age group tend to experience some sort of depression, but it tends to 'peak' in older adults," Smith said.
Getting help
Although depression and anxiety disorders are becoming more common on college campuses, they are treatable. One effective way that psychologists use to treat depression or anxiety is through a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventor (MMPI) for $25.
"(The test) is used to see what is going on clinically with the client," Smith said.
Other treatments include cognitive therapy, where 12 sessions look at underlying belief systems, how a person thinks and any prescribed medication the client takes.
"Cognitive therapy and medication are the most effective in treating depression and anxiety," Smith said. "If you change (the belief systems), then it tends to change the way the client feels."
With Minnesota's long winters, Smith also helps students with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a psychological response to the lack of outside light.
"(The Counseling Center) is busy currently, when more people want it to be spring," he said. "Students get bored and stressed with school and wish it was spring or summer break already."
Although the Counseling Center is open to all students, if Smith feels a student is not a good fit for the Center, he refers the student to a local practitioner. If Smith feels that the illness is long lasting, he will send the client to SCSU Health Services to get medication.
Medications
The most common type of psychiatric drug prescribed to students is Prozac, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs are commonly prescribed treatments for depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
SSRIs help correct the chemical imbalance of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that is involved in the transmission of messages between nerve cells.
"Each person varies (on how long to take the medication)," said John Hann, medical director of SCSU Health Services. "Each person's body has a different metabolism rate. Prozac happens to have a longer-half life."
Other types of these drugs that treat similar symptoms are Zoloft, Paxil and Lubox.
Where to go
To help a loved one cope with psychological pain, Smith recommends telling the person they are loved, asking them about a marked change in their behavior, giving support, engaging them in other activities and being a good listener.
"Sometimes a friend has to sit in on the first session with the client so that he or she feels more comfortable," he said.
In 2002, the Counseling Center saw 750 students for a psychological problem -- 2,000 sessions total.
Something Smith wishes the Counseling Center had was more staff, he said. Currently, the Counseling Center has five full-time psychologists for 15,000 students.
The national recommendation is one psychologist for every 12 to 15 students.
"(Because of the budget cuts), we are short staffed," Smith said disappointedly. "It is pretty severe. We are all on pins and needles at this point."
Something Smith also wishes the Counseling Center would do is to better raise awareness of its presence and the services it offers on campus.
"We (Counseling Center) could do a better job at raising awareness on campus," he said. "We currently have very scarce resources, so we rely on the Internet as our main source."
Smith also encourages students to participate in therapy groups. He runs a general issue group for anxiety and depression.
"These therapy groups are the perfect opportunity for students to express their feelings and concerns," he said. "(Therapy groups) are very effective and educational with college students."
The Counseling, Career and Academic Support Center is located in Stewart Hall, Room 103.
For more information on the SCSU Counseling Center and therapy groups, call 255-3171, or visit online at http://condor.stcloudstate.edu/ ~counsel/index.htm.
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