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Ka Leo O Hawaii: UH Manoa Student College Newspaper & Media > Features

Informational on depression held at Campus Center

By Christopher T. Romano

Ka Leo Contributing Writer

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Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Updated: Monday, August 3, 2009

A lengthy bout of sadness could be a sign of depression.

Clinical depression affects 1.5 million young adults a year in the United States. It is a serious disorder associated with an imbalance of the brain chemistry that affects mood and other bodily functions such as sleep and appetite.

Symptoms of Depression

Depression may be present if five or more of the following symptoms are noticed during the same two-week period.

  1. Depressed mood for most of the day
  2. Disturbed appetite or change in weight
  3. Disturbed sleep
  4. Psychomotor retardation or agitation
  5. Loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities; inability to enjoy usual hobbies or activities
  6. Fatigue or loss of energy
  7. Feelings of worthlessness; excessive and/or inappropriate guilt
  8. Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
  9. Morbid or suicidal thoughts or actions

*Information obtained from www.drkoop.com

Clinical depression is a product of both genetics and environmental factors and affects twice as many women as it does men.

In the case of manic-depression or bipolar disorder, an individual rides an emotional roller-coaster of highs and lows. Manic-depression has strong genetic linkage and occurs equally among men and women.

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa is a participating in National Depression Screening Day, an event which will be held on Oct. 11 at Campus Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clinical team members from the Counseling and Student Development Center will be in charge of the event.

Kristen Oliver, coordinator of National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) and a psychology intern at the University of Hawai'i, said, "It's an informational, not diagnostic screening event, it's an event where students can get help and we hope to help them most of all by educating them to identify the symptoms of depression and manic depression."

NDSD is being held on college campuses nationwide during October. Participating colleges will educate their students on the signs and symptoms of depression and manic-depression/bipolar disorder.

Throughout the day mental health professionals will conduct short presentations on depression and manic depression at the campus center. Students can ask questions during these presentations, said Oliver.

Oliver also pointed out that students who are experiencing a difficult time dealing with the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks may be able to gain some relief by participating in the screening day.

Students who are experiencing troubling symptoms will receive psychological referral information.

Students can take a survey on depression and attend a private session with a mental health professional to discuss the results of the survey.

For more information about National Depression Screening Day, please contact the Counseling and Student Development Center at 956-7927 or email Kristin Oliver at oliverk@hawaii.edu.

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