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Study reveals more students depressed
on college campuses
By Cheryl Heitzman
Collegian Reporter
Over 19 million Americans suffer from depression, according
to the National Mental Health Association. Women are twice as
likely to suffer from depression than men and attempt suicide
more often.
According to the same survey, the third leading cause of death
among 18- to 24-year-olds is suicide.
Many schools, such as the University of Toledo, are starting
semester-long freshman orientation classes in an attempt to
decrease the stress of the transition to college life, according
to an article in the Toledo Blade.
Hillsdale College counselor Dr. Chuck Johnson provides help
for students free of charge. Along with Johnson, Dean of Women
CarolAnn Barker recommends local psychologist Marianne Osentoski,
Barker's secretary, Diane Watkins, said. Barker was unavailable
for comment because she is out of the office until March.
Sophomore Kate Bruley has suffered from depression since middle
school. She said she was tentatively diagnosed as bipolar, which
is a disorder where a person feels depressed for a period of
time followed by periods of high energy.
Bruley began counseling in middle school because she self-mutilated.
She said she was better after a short time, but upon entering
college her problem became worse, and she ended up in the hospital
after taking too many Tylenol while drinking alcohol.
"That was the breaking point," she said. "At
first I was ashamed of the overdose, but I'm glad it happened
because I reached the conclusion that I had a chemical imbalance."
Bruley said she believes the incident was a cry for help because
she was so hopeless, she thought no one could help her. Since
the incident, Bruley has been working closely with Osentoski.
"She bends over backwards for me," Bruley said. "She
has been working with me on my medication because I still don't
have a definite diagnosis."
Osentoski said she thought depression was a common occurrence
among college students and will help anyone, regardless of their
financial status.
"There is pressure to figure out 'Who am I?' and 'What
am I doing here?' when people enter college," Osentoski
said. "But the fear of getting help with depression is
worse than the actual event."
Another Hillsdale student dealing with depression is junior
Maralissa Mallett. Her mother passed away suddenly when she
was a junior in high school.
"Little things still come up and remind me of her,"
Mallett said. "When they do, I deal with them."
Halfway through her freshman year of college, Mallett began
seeing Johnson to help with her feelings.
"It helped to a degree," she said. "I told him
stuff, but I still tended to hold back."
Mallett said she seeks help from her older sister, who acts
like her best friend. But she admitted to ignoring her bouts
with depression.
"I wouldn't say I deny it, but I ignore it. I know it's
there, but when I'm doing my everyday activities I act normally
even though I feel like s--.
"There is a significant amount of students that are on
medication or that have suffered crises that can happen to anyone,"
Johnson said.
Johnson said depression does not necessarily have to be clinical,
and Seasonal Affective Disorder is also a factor.
"Sometimes students come from a very sunny part of the
country and become depressed with these Michigan winters,"
Johnson said.
Osentoski added that trauma, such as the death of a family
member or sexual abuse, is a very common source of depression
"Sometimes depression is caused by grief, and all of us
handle grief differently," she said.
Johnson and Osentoski work in conjunction with Dr. Karen Lindower
at the college health center to help students with depression.
Bruley said just talking about her problems has helped her
significantly, and encouraged anyone who feels depressed to
seek help.
"Sitting down and interviewing for this article is helping
me," she said. "Someone could read my story and go
get help. That makes me feel really good about what I'm doing."
For more information, call Dr. Johnson at 437-4596 or Dr. Osentoski
at 493-4596.
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