Depression

Counseling Center

Depression

Everyone has times when they feel blue or down, often because of sad events, disappointments, or loneliness. Most of the time, people feel better within a few days, and their lives are not seriously disrupted. When feelings of sadness, exhaustion, and hopelessness go on for longer periods and make it hard for people to keep going, they require treatment.

Most people think of being sad and crying as the main signs of depression, but many other symptoms are possible:

lack of energy and motivation
irritability
blaming oneself unrealistically
strong feelings of guilt
avoidance of family and friends
lack of desire to participate in activities which used to be enjoyable
sleep problems (either sleeping too much or too little)
appetite problems (eating too much or too little).
thoughts of death and suicide.

Depression has been the topic of a great deal of research, and effective treatments are readily available. For a student, getting treatment can mean the difference between a successful semester and needing to withdraw or earning very poor grades.

Help at SIUC

Counseling Center, Student Health Center, Room 253, 453-5371

The Counselor on Duty can see you on a same-day appointment basis to help you determine if you are depressed , and to help you plan effective treatment if you are.

Student Health Programs, Student Health Center, 453-3311

Medical providers can prescribe antidepressant medications to treat depression.

After hours crisis call-in lines- if you need someone to talk to when the Counseling Center is not open

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline 1-800-448-3000
National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-7842433)

Help in the Carbondale Community

Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, 604 E. College, Carbondale, IL 62901 457-6703

This agency has both emergency and adult outpatient services for students and non-students on a sliding fee scale.

Links to Additional Resources

On-line Depression Screening Test

Depression- Information from the National Institute of Mental Health

How Psychotherapy Helps People Recover from Depression

Depression Central- a web site with many links and a huge amount of information about depression and related topics

Comments: Webmaster