The Danna Student Center held the University Counseling Center’s first depression screening, assisted by students from Loyola’s counseling master program.
The objective of the screening was to provide students with privacy in identifying symptoms of depression and the resources needed to combat it.
Tiffany J. McCaughey, assistant director of the University Counseling Center, organized Loyola Cares, which brought Loyola’s first depression screening.
“Loyola Cares helps students in distress. We can reach out to help when life gets overwhelming,” McCaughey said.
Depression is a problem on campus, according to William Jones, general studies freshman.
“I see a lot of people depressed. People don’t do well with change and people are homesick to an extent whether they realize it or not,” Jones said.
“In the beginning, it’s hard to make friends and cliques form so quickly. If you don’t get in, you’re going to feel left out. Even this city, as beautiful as it is, is an outlet for drowning your sorrows in alcohol.”
The number of college students experiencing depression is consistent with what you see nationally.
According to a representative from the National Institute of Mental Health, “Around 26 percent of Americans, 18 and older will experience depression.”
That’s a little more than one in four Americans.
Some of the causes of depression, especially on college campuses, are stress in your relationships with friends and family, academic anxiety, and homesickness according to the University Counseling Center.
There are many ways to help treat depression. The University Counseling Center offers counseling in private or within groups for more support, but is designated on a case-by-case basis.
“There are limits to speaking to a counselor,” McCaughey said. “If you have a friend, be supportive of their problems and encourage them to seek help.”
Appointments can be made with the University Counseling Center at 504 865-3835.
“It’s all about being a community and caring for one another as well as yourself,” McCaughey said.
Michael Sanchez can be reached at [email protected]
