Nearly 7 percent of the United States population experiences depression, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

     There are 18.1 percent who have an anxiety disorder. Mental illnesses are a widespread problem that affect millions of people every year. For MSMS students who may be struggling with depression, help is available. 

     MSMS Counselor Heath Stevens said, “MSMS can be a wondrous place full of fun, but it can certainly be a stressful place at times, too. When a student starts to think that his or her mental health is being negatively affected, the first thing I would recommend would be to stop, take a breath, and reflect on what is actually happening.

     “Depending on the situation, many students are able to calm themselves down significantly after taking some time to think through things. Of course, there are many situations that are extremely devastating to students, and emotions can often become overwhelming. Every student should know that your school counselors are here for you in all of these situations to help in any way that we can.” Dr. Stevens said.

“The best thing to do initially would be to come and talk with Dr. Crook or myself so that we can assess what resources may most appropriately meet the individual student’s needs,” added Dr. Stevens.

     The school has mental health resources available, such as free counseling with Dr. Baird, a licensed counselor who comes by bi-weekly. If students are dealing with more severe problems, they can can get off-campus treatment with Dr. Baird or at another clinic.

     However sometimes, students maybe be so severely ill that they think of taking their own life. “Students having suicidal thoughts should definitely see their school counselor as soon as possible. We will conduct an assessment and act appropriately to handle the situation as best as we can,” Dr. Stevens said.

     Sometimes students experience these dark states of mind late at night or on the weekends. There is an MSMS counselor on-call for such emergencies. The Residence Hall staff will contact an administrator who will contact the person on-call. It should be noted that the on-call system is only for extreme emergencies.

     The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers a toll-free number for students who may wish anonymity:  1-800-273-TALK (8255) and is available 24 hours a day.