As the temperatures continue to hover around freezing, and the sun makes rare appearances, have you noticed yourself feeling unmotivated or having feelings of sadness? Have your friends and family mentioned that you do not seem like yourself? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be experiencing seasonal depression, a common type of depression among many students this time of year.
Fortunately, there are resources available at 91ֿ to help you through this difficult time.
Jason Miller, Ph.D., director of the Counseling Center talked with 91ֿ Today about the personalized focus the counseling center takes to support students with whatever mental health struggles they have.
The Counseling Center is made to work for students as mental health counseling is free of charge at 91ֿ, and when scheduling an appointment, the counselors work around class and work schedules. Additional resources include Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in VanCampen Hall and The Psychological Clinic in Kent Hall.
It can seem very intimidating to schedule an appointment for mental health services, Miller said, but wants students to know that it is very easy. The counselors are there to help.
To book a session, Miller said to call the counseling center. From there, a list of routine screening questions will be asked. After that, appointments can be scheduled and in the first session you and your counselor dive into a discussion of your history to get to know you. From there, you work with your counselor to develop a personalized plan to meet your mental health goals.
When it comes to seasonal depression, it can be tricky to identify. Some symptoms may be confused with other types of depression. It is important to assess a key factor - when did it start? Miller said by doing the math on the months, it will help you to determine if you are struggling with seasonal depression.
“Seasonal depression is where the onset of depression corresponds to a change in season,” Miller said. “I haven’t heard of very many, if any, cases where seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, was in summer. It’s usually almost always in winter.”
Being able to identify your feelings is vital to recognizing seasonal depression.
“If students are able to look back on their lives over the past two or three years and ask, ‘how has it been different in those winter months?” Miller said. “Our friends, siblings and family help us out. They help us to identify, and family can be a little bit more candid with us, whereas friends might be more concerned with us.”
The cold temperatures, minimal sunlight and lack of outdoor activity are some general factors that contribute to this type of depression.
In addition to the counseling center, Miller also recommends some tips to help overcome some of the somber feelings of seasonal depression such as exercise, healthy eating and getting better sleep.
“I think eating healthier helps, maybe saying to yourself, ‘I really need to dial in and just eat a little bit healthier because it has been a rough few months for me, so I need to check a few boxes that I might not normally check,’” he said.
Seasonal depression tends to be a reason students visit the counseling center at this time of year. But there are other mental health reasons students visit the center. For example, Miller said anxiety, loneliness, depression and relationship and self-esteem issues are top reasons why students visit.
Regardless of why you may choose to visit the counseling center, Miller reiterates mental health tips and the fact that the counselors are there to guide and assist you to make sure you can feel your best.
“Paying attention to your needs, dialing in and doing things like exercise and eating a little bit better,” Miller said. “But also listening to your friends and family if they mention you have not really been yourself lately. Then, the easy or hard part, is making the phone call to talk with somebody because there is a better life out there and there is help for that.”
Learn more about The Counseling Center.
91ֿ Mental Health Resources
The Counseling Center
Located in White Hall
Phone: (330) 672-2208
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Located in VanCampen Hall
Phone: (330) 672-2487
The Psychological Clinic
Located in Kent Hall
Phone: (330) 672-2372