2008 Woodie Awards
National Depression Survey Day Observed on the Wilf Campus
Asher Morris
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
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For the first time ever, Yeshiva University participated in National Depression Screening Day, which took place on Thursday, October 11. For three and a half hours Thursday afternoon, staff members from the Counseling Center manned tables in the Rubin lobby passing out surveys that might indicate varying levels of depression and anxiety in the survey-takers. According to Dr. Chaim Nissel, the Director of the Counseling Center, "A remarkable 175 students on this campus completed the screening instrument."
Students had the opportunity to anonymously fill out brief surveys about depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Students then had the opportunity to have their surveys evaluated by Counseling Center staff. In a quick one to five minute meeting, Counseling Center staff members met with interested students to review their scores.
"Many students were informed that they were demonstrating low levels or moderate levels of depression or anxiety and they were encouraged to schedule an appointment with the counseling center," affirmed Dr. Nissel. Several students scheduled appointments on the spot, he added.
The depression surveys were handed out on both the Wilf and the Beren campuses. Additionally, 3000 colleges across the United States participated in passing out these surveys for National Depression Screening Day. On average, it took students three minutes to complete the survey.
The Counseling Center at Yeshiva participated in the day to accomplish three main goals: to screen students for depression and anxiety, to give out educational materials about various mental health disorders and to get the word out about the Counseling Center.
In addition, the Counseling Center hoped that this survey will help build awareness on Yeshiva's campuses about depression, anxiety and suicide, and to reduce the stigma of seeing a counselor. Moreover, the Center hoped that by presenting information about depression, anxiety and suicide, students would be more open to discussing these mental illnesses publicly. Dr. Nissel also expressed his desire to empower students to become more open about issues of mental health.
Students had the opportunity to anonymously fill out brief surveys about depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Students then had the opportunity to have their surveys evaluated by Counseling Center staff. In a quick one to five minute meeting, Counseling Center staff members met with interested students to review their scores.
"Many students were informed that they were demonstrating low levels or moderate levels of depression or anxiety and they were encouraged to schedule an appointment with the counseling center," affirmed Dr. Nissel. Several students scheduled appointments on the spot, he added.
The depression surveys were handed out on both the Wilf and the Beren campuses. Additionally, 3000 colleges across the United States participated in passing out these surveys for National Depression Screening Day. On average, it took students three minutes to complete the survey.
The Counseling Center at Yeshiva participated in the day to accomplish three main goals: to screen students for depression and anxiety, to give out educational materials about various mental health disorders and to get the word out about the Counseling Center.
In addition, the Counseling Center hoped that this survey will help build awareness on Yeshiva's campuses about depression, anxiety and suicide, and to reduce the stigma of seeing a counselor. Moreover, the Center hoped that by presenting information about depression, anxiety and suicide, students would be more open to discussing these mental illnesses publicly. Dr. Nissel also expressed his desire to empower students to become more open about issues of mental health.