Thursday, October 11, 2001

Counseling center testing for depression
By Aaron Chimbel
Staff Reporter

Students, faculty and staff can receive free anonymous depression screenings today in the TCU counseling center.

To coincide with national depression screening day the center will offer 10 to 15 minute depression screenings that include a written survey and a one-on-one consultation with a clinician, said Monica Kintigh, a licensed professional counselor at the center.

Kintigh said about 80 percent of the estimated 17 million depressed people in United States do not seek help.

“It is important since it is one month after the attacks on America,” she said.

Kintigh said she has seen several students come in with concerns stemming from the attacks last month. She said people that have symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder will have some characteristics of depression. When someone is severely affected by traumatic issues for a long period of time it can become a post traumatic stress disorder, she said.

Psychology department Chairman Tim Barth said depression screenings can be beneficial to students.

“With the recent attacks, (counseling) is something students should consider doing,” he said.

Barth said every situation is different and the best thing to do is for students to listen to their counselor.

Kintigh said the screening day should be considered an educational opportunity. An informational table was set up Wednesday in the Student Center to provide information on depression. Kintigh said information will be available today as well.

Senior psychology major Jane Montgomery, who volunteered to work the table Wednesday, said she wanted to provide information about the screening day and depression.

“I think it is very important to make people aware of what depression is,” she said.
Kintigh said a Web site (www.counseling.tcu.edu) has been set up to provide anonymous on-line depression screenings.

She said the regular process for students, faculty or staff to talk with a clinician at the center is to call and set up an appointment. She said the counselors, psychologists and psychiatrist at the center will treat student’s short-term problems by medication, talk therapy or both. If a student needs long-term care they will be referred off-campus, she said.

The center will offer the service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The counseling center is located on the west side of the Health Center. She said this is the sixth year TCU has participated in the screening day. Nationwide, 1,800 organizations are participating this year.

Aaron Chimbel
a.a.chimbel@student.tcu.edu