Beating the blues

It may come as no surprise but, yes, our college years can be stressful.

For every great paper turned in, exam aced, dance nailed or touchdown tossed there can be rising anxieties from classwork, finances, roommate issues, social situations, homesickness, car trouble, peer pressure - you name it.

The results of these stressors can by wide-ranging - changing sleep and eating patterns; feelings of depression and loss of energy; anxiety; and a loss of interests in everyday activities.

While many situations are temporary, they can seem dark and ominous as storm clouds, lined with a surfeit of emotions.

Fortunately, relief is just a phone call away.

The Counseling & Psychological Services Center in Savitz Hall, a popular Rowan University resource since 1970, offers immediate access to staff members uniquely trained to address a very wide range of issues common on college campuses.

"Students may call to set an appointment but walk-ins are also fine," said Dr. David Rubenstein, the center's director. "A student can walk in at any time and meet with a counselor to discuss and address their concerns."

Dr. Rubenstein said depression is extremely common among college students - as many as 50 percent of all students feel depressed at some point - but sometimes speaking with a professional even once or twice can ease acute feelings of despair and help address the underlying issues.

"Most of the time the concerns you're having, concerns in your life, other people have had," he said. "Asking for and receiving help and support is a sign of strength, an important step in getting to where you want to be."

The Counseling Center, with four therapists on staff and an on-call psychiatrist, offers free individual and couples counseling and a full host of services including psychological testing, psychiatric evaluations and psychiatric medication management. It provides group therapy for such issues as eating disorders and treats or refers students with drug and alcohol problems to Rowan's Center for Addiction Studies.

Dr. Rubenstein said the center's services, virtually all of which are free, address a wide range of mental health issues in a quiet, comfortable, completely confidential environment.

"Going off to college can be hard," he said. "Students are trying to cope with living alone for the first time, with separation from home and their parents, with living on campus and dealing with greater academic demands. It can be very stressful."

While the center maintains regular office hours of 8:30 to 4:30, Monday through Friday, students may call anytime at (856) 256-4222 or (856) 256-4911 if there's an emergency.

"If a student needs to speak with someone at 3 in the morning they're able to do that," Dr. Rubenstein said.

Further, he said, if students, faculty or staff have serious concerns about someone else on campus they may also call or stop in to speak with a professional.

Extraordinary Measures

The primary goal during a mental health emergency, Dr. Rubenstein said, is to help students who may be in crisis. If counselors speak with distressed students early enough they can often help diffuse situations before they spiral out of control.

"It doesn't happen often but occasionally that means having to hospitalize a student," Dr. Rubenstein said. "If a situation arises where we feel a student is at significant risk of hurting himself or someone else, sometimes they need a higher level of care."

In such a situation, he said, Counseling Center staff would work with hospital staff and other professionals to help facilitate the student's return to campus.

He said students may seek guidance from the center for a wide range of issues but should absolutely contact a professional - on campus or off - if they experience symptoms of clinical depression. Such symptoms could include:

• depressed mood

• diminished interest in activities

• difficulty concentrating

• sudden decreases or increases in sleep or appetite

• low energy level

• marked weight loss or gain

• feelings of hopelessness/helplessness

• excessive feelings of guilt

• thoughts of death or dying

"All of these symptoms can effect academic performance as well as relationships with peers and family members," Dr. Rubenstein said. "The trick is to catch the problem early to find out what's causing these symptoms and treat them effectively."

Campus Outreach

For 2009-10 the center will expand its outreach mission with mental health programs in the Chamberlain Student Center and in residence halls.

Through a variety of mental health awareness presentations, counselors seek to help students effectively deal with stress and anxiety, improve coping skills and, from time to time, address drug and alcohol issues.

Graduate student Rachael Scharen, a residential director in Magnolia Hall, said she's referred freshmen to the center who seemed blue, disconnected or lonesome.

"It's really a good outlet," she said. "The counselors are unbiased. They help students recognize options and ways in which to best handle their situation."