By Sasha Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Date Posted: September 30, 2011
Print Edition: September 28, 2011
Students dealing with the pressures of academia, debt and relationships may find that becoming aware of the very real risks associated with mental health and illnesses is an important thing to do. Canada’s Mental Illness Awareness Week, which takes place October 2nd through October 8th, is aimed at encouraging Canadians to do just that – and on October 6th at UFV, counsellors are bringing the event to us, with “Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Education and Screening Day.”
UFV counsellor Eileen Burkholder explained exactly what the event will look like: “The goal is to help students learn the signs of depression, anxiety disorders, and risky drinking, and to help connect them to community supports.”
Students who stop by will be able to pick up resource materials on depression, anxiety and related topics as well as voice questions or concerns to staff. They will also be offered the opportunity to fill out a short self-test or a test regarding a loved one they may be concerned about, but it’s completely optional. This is the “screening” portion of Beyond the Blues.
Burkholder walked The Cascade through the screening self-tests; the actual test is simply a questionnaire. There are one- to two-page self-tests for depression, anxiety and stress disorders, and alcohol abuse. It only takes ten to twenty minutes at most to fill all of them out, and is a fairly basic process. Confidentiality is emphasized; students filling out the forms will be able to do so in a private area. The staff will not ask for names.
After completion, students have the option of handing the forms in and getting the opportunity to meet with a clinician, one-on-one, to go over the results. Those who choose this option will be given a number, and be called to a private area to look over their self-test. The process is entirely non-threatening; in going over the questionnaires with The Cascade, Burkholder didn’t outright ask for reasons behind certain answers, but simply added up the score and explained what symptoms and signs she was looking for and what that might mean.
“Transparency is important,” Burkholder said. The person undergoing the test should understand what the counsellor is looking for and how they are scoring to come to the conclusion of the screening. The goal of the screening, however, is not diagnosis.
“We are here to educate,” Burkholder explained, “not to scare.” Everyone has stresses and worries; at an escalated level, these anxieties can effect one’s school and social life, and that’s when it becomes a problem. But if participants show some signs of stress, they won’t be pegged with a diagnosis. In fact, students will not receive a complete diagnosis at all, but they will learn if they would benefit from a more complete evaluation.
After participants have gone over the test, Burkholder explained,“a brief interview with the clinician to discuss the results of the form and next steps, learn about community resources and receive a follow-up sheet summarizing the student’s results will take place.”
Students should feel safe and welcome taking the exam, and even those who don’t believe they have a real concern are encouraged to participate – filling out the sheet and the talking with a counsellor is a really good, hands-on way to build understanding around depression, anxiety, suicide prevention and risky drinking, regardless of one’s individual mental health.
“Beyond the Blues is a ‘health literacy’ program,” Burkholder explained, “building knowledge and skills around prevention, early intervention, and appropriate help-seeking. The intent is to empower attendees with themes of hope and recovery and allow attendees to talk to others about their situation in a non-threatening, supportive venue.”
Beyond the Blues is an annual event, based on the National Depression Screening Day program developed in the US. It was started up in 1994 and now around 65 events are held around BC, helping 4000 people each year.
Burkhart hopes that students will become more aware of both depression and anxiety at this event, as well as of the resources available in the community and at UFV. “If a student is experiencing stress which is impacting them in ways that they don’t like, UFV Counsellors are here to talk to. Other areas of support UFV counsellors offer to all students is personal, crisis and career counselling and study skills help.”
The event, sponsored by the UFV Counselling Department, is free and drop-in. All are welcome to drop by and check it out on October 6 at the Abbotsford campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will be located in front of the lecture theatre, B 101, by the cafeteria.
