A new ASU program offers students a free anonymous depression screening as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which began Monday and ends today.
The screening allows students to determine if they are at risk of depression, said Marielle Rasmussen, Campus Care coordinator.
"Studies show 10 percent of all college students have seriously contemplated suicide and 1 percent have attempted," Rasmussen said.
One of the goals of the screening is to help students recognize symptoms of depression to prevent more serious problems, Rasmussen said.
The screening can be taken online by visiting www.Ulifeline.com or www.mentalhealthscreening.org.
The screening provides a series of questions for the student.
Based on their answers, the student is given an assessment, if they have symptoms consistent with depression.
The screening is available all year, not just this week, Rasmussen said.
A student can also fill out a screening for a friend, she said.
Although screening is anonymous, the Ulifeline Web site does ask for the university the student attends, she added.
Campus Care operations started this fall and is under ASU's Wellness and Health Promotion department, she said.
Goals include increasing awareness of depression and suicide and identifying students at risk, Rasmussen said.
Campus Care has five peer educators, who are students volunteering their time, she said.
The educators are not trained counselors, but will listen to students and put them in touch with trained professionals or counselors who can help, said Stephanie Prevost, a peer educator.
"You don't tell the student what to do, just listen," said Prevost, a biology sophomore.
Campus Care welcomes new volunteers to help with promotion or administration, but students would need to take a 40-hour training course to become a peer educator, Rasmussen said.
Although, the training was offered in August, there are no plans to do it again in the near future, she said.
Campus Care also shares a helpline with Home Safe, 480-727-4663.
Home Safe is a place where victims of sexual assault, violence or those in an unhealthy relationship can turn to for information, said Kathrine Reyes, a political science sophomore and Home Safe advocate.
The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, said Dena Hester, Home Safe program coordinator.
Home Safe, in its third year, aims to raise awareness of the definition of sexual assault and to help prevent them, Hester said.
Both Hester and Rasmussen agree the shared helpline is working well for both organizations.
Campus Care is trying to increase its visibility, but has a limited marketing campaign, Rasmussen said.
Campus Care does have a table outside the Memorial Union Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in order to increase awareness of the new program, she said.
"We want people [with depression] to know they are not alone," she said.
Reach the reporter at: jeffrey.mitchell@asu.edu.
