Free Depression Screenings Promote Mental Health

The University held free screenings Thursday to educate and increase the public's knowledge of depression and mental health treatment. As part of National Depression Screening Day, the the Community Counseling Services Center at GW's Graduate School of Education and Human Development allowed students to talk privately with mental health professionals.

Dr. Monica Megivern, the director of Community Counseling Services, said that the center is a place where students do not have to feel afraid to speak openly about their feelings.  She said that she sees herself as a mentor to the graduate students who work at the center.

"Counseling is not a stigma," Megivern said. "This is a place where you can be safe.  You don't have to feel like you're going crazy just to come here."

The CCSC is a training clinic for grad students in the Department of Counseling and Human Development. Student counselors serve D.C. metro area clients under faculty supervision.

Megivern said that the clinic takes cases from individuals ranging as young as high school students with their parents to people in their 80s and even returning war veterans. Despite the taxing, emotionally draining nature of the job, Megivern said she still enjoys her work.

"We practice compassion fatigue," Megivern said. "Through that, we educate the grad students here to take care of themselves when dealing with clients."

Since the 1990s, there has been a growing trend of students seeking help for mental health problems at campus counseling centers. With the many hurdles college students face, such as freshmen being away from their parents or seniors about to head into the competitive job market, symptoms such as depression, anxiety or suicidal tendencies have made it difficult for some students to function.

Megivern noted that there is a huge gender gap in the amount of females that come in for counseling compared to men; about 70 percent are female compared to 30 percent male.

"Raising kids is still very gender specific," Megivern said. "Men are still being raised to not be very open about their feelings, almost as if they have to be given permission to open up."

Andrew Campbell, a counselor involved in the two-year program at the Center, said that there have been plenty of intense and stressful situations, especially for new students, but the job is still rewarding.

"I've had a great learning experience working here," Campbell said.  "There are lot more positives among the negatives."

Campbell, who used to teach high school and will soon be working on his dissertation, said it helps to be used to interacting with people with certain circumstances.

"I think that GW has done a good job raising awareness of this issue," Campbell said. "It helps dispel the notion that counseling is weird."

Tana Schywstell, an intern who received her bachelor's in Family Development and Human Studies, also called the job challenging and draining, but still gratifying. The screenings are a good way to get the Center's name out there, she noted.

Megivern said that for the screenings, it helps to be a genuine person and know how to sit and talk with people in need.

"You need to be able to sit with people's pain," Megivern said. "We play the part of the backseat driver at the center and make a big difference in people's lives."

Students and residents of the D.C. metro area can contact the CCSC by calling 202-994-8645 or visiting their website.