October 8, 2002

national depression screening day help available at
Iowa Lakes Community College October 10
Help offered for those who may be Sad, Anxious, Irritable, Hyper or Out Of Control

Help will be available this Thursday at Iowa Lakes Community College for individuals who may be depressed.

People say college is supposed to be great, but many students feel anxious, disconnected, and alone.  They feel sad, trapped by inertia, hopeless, and not “up to the challenge” of college.

Adults in the workforce who have problems getting out of bed to go to work in the morning and who suffer untreated depression cost $12 billion in lost work days each year.  Additionally, more than $11 billion in other costs occur from decreased productivity at work due to symptoms that sap energy and affect decision-making.

In order to help students and workers cope, the counseling center at Iowa Lakes Community College, in conjunction with Seasons, is offering screenings for a range of common emotional conditions that often go undiagnosed and are misunderstood.  Individuals who feel sad and angry; weepy and tired; can’t stop worrying; are having nightmares; yo-yo between elated and happy, to down and dark; will likely be able to help figure out what is wrong at the screening during this activity at the college.

Questions that might be asked of individuals at the screening event include:

·        Have you lost pleasure in things you used to enjoy?
·        Do you have trouble sleeping or eating?
·        Does your mood fluctuate between overly “high” to sad and hopeless?
·        Are you keyed up and anxious all the time?
·        Are you having nightmares about something that happened in the past?
·        How long have you been feeling this way?

On Thursday, the counseling center will be offering free, confidential screenings for depression, manic-depression, anxiety and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.   At the screening, participants can fill out a self-test and talk with a counselor about personal situations.  Even those who don’t have a mood or anxiety disorder and are just going through a couple of bad days, are invited to come take advantage of the program and learn about what services are available on campus.  The general public is encouraged to attend in the hope that everyone will learn something that will help a friend, a spouse, a coworker or even themselves in the future. 

The screenings and information sessions are being held Thursday, Oct. 10.  The Emmetsburg location will be in Room 817 at the college campus.  The Estherville campus location will be the college auditorium.  Both screenings will take place from noon to 1 p.m.    Individuals with questions may call the counseling center at (712) 362-7990 for more information.