by Mandi Kane
Daily Lobo
UNM's Student Health Center offers several resources including therapy and prescription medications to address the growing number of students suffering from depression.
"Depression is actually a quite common mental disorder across the country," said Carol Wagner-Adams, a licensed psychologist who heads the Counseling and Therapy Services (CATS) at the Student Health Center.
Depression can be spurred by a major life event, such as divorce or death, or by biological factors, Wagner-Adams said.
Most episodes of depression last between six and seven months, Wagner-Adams said.
"Episodes are very impairing," she said.
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Depression can impair the brain's cognitive functions such as attention, memory, decision-making skills and problem solving.
"There are only 16 weeks in a semester and if you are out of commission for a third of that, it will have a dramatic impact on how you do (academically)," Wagner-Adams said.
Signs of depression include mood swings, nervousness, fear, changes in weight or sleeping patterns, withdrawal from social institutions and "feeling like you are going into a black hole," she said.
Suicidal or homicidal thoughts and gestures can also be emergent signs of depression.
It can be treated with interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive therapy, Wagner-Adams said.
Medication is also an option available to those suffering from depression. However, it is most effective when paired with therapy, which is what most clinicians recommend, Wagner-Adams said.
She said medication can take months to become effective and should not be viewed as an immediate cure, she said.
"Antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)," said Linda Haakenson, manager of the Student Health Center Pharmacy. "They affect chemicals in the brain that deal with mood."
According to the current issue of Time magazine, a growing number of the nation's youth suffering from mental disorders, including depression, are being treated with medication.
The antidepressant prescriptions most commonly filled by the Student Health Center Pharmacy are Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, Haakenson said. Side effects from antidepressants vary among individuals and can include drowsiness and weight loss.
"The patient will work with someone (medical practitioner) to monitor side effects," she said.
If depression goes untreated, it can lead to more serious consequences, including suicide, Wagner-Adams said.
"Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in (the nation's) university students ages 19 through 25," Wagner-Adams said.
She said there are numerous things students can do to preserve their mental health.
"The first thing I would say is to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep night after night after night," she said. Participating in physical activity, eating healthy meals and staying connected with an emotional support system, including religious or spiritual beliefs, can also be methods for maintaining good mental health.
"Another thing is time management," Wagner-Adams said. "Don't leave all your work until the last minute because that is going to do you in."
CATS is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers students sessions that are available on a walk-in basis for emergencies and by regular appointment.
Mid-level medical practitioners are on hand at the Student Health Center to prescribe medication if needed.
The most important thing, Wagner-Adams said, is getting care when needed.
"We are here to take care of students," she said.
