CollegeResponse Recognizes Kent State University as Top Site for National Depression Screening Day

Kent State University’s Psychological Services was recognized by CollegeResponse Screening for Mental Health as one of the top universities for its National Depression Screening Day efforts.

“We are very pleased to be recognized for the work that we do around National Depression Screening Day,” says John S. Schell, senior psychologist and co-coordinator of National Depression Screening Day at Kent State. “National Depression Screening Day is our most important outreach effort, and it is good to know that we have been successful in educating the Kent State community about depression, and more broadly, the importance of college mental health.”

Psychological Services has sponsored National Depression Screening Day for 18 years, and the program has grown ever since. The National Depression Screening Day event last October had 468 individual participants and 1,205 online screenings completed. CollegeResponse acknowledged Psychological Services’ efforts, saying “Your in-person numbers were excellent!”

“In past years, National Depression Screening Day was an in-person event held on a specific date in October,” says Carrie Berta, staff psychologist and co-coordinator of Kent State’s National Depression Screening Day. “Over the past two years, we have been able to extend National Depression Screening Day to Kent State University at Stark and have now implemented an online screening component that allows individuals to access the screening tool and receive referral information 24 hours per day.” 

The online screening continues to be available and can be accessed atwww.mentalhealthscreening.org/screening/kent. It is sponsored and endorsed by University Health Services and Psychological Services for the assessment of mood, anxiety and PTSD. 

"We would like for the community to know that depression screening is not just one day; instead, mental health is important to be aware of on an ongoing basis," says Berta.

Berta and Schell hope to keep growing Psychological Services’ mental health efforts by expanding the screenings to other Regional Campuses and offering screenings at different locations on the Kent Campus.

“It is good to know that students in particular are taking advantage of these resources, with National Depression Screening Day and the online screening being two important services that we offer,” says Schell. “With increased awareness, students realize that it is important to take care of themselves psychologically.”

The screenings were free and open to Kent State faculty, staff and students. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in confidential mental health screenings to assess depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. After the screenings, mental health professionals were available to discuss results with participants. The program also served as an information resource for people to receive facts about mental health issues, substance abuse, stress and suicide.

“National Depression Screening Day is an important event on campus,” says Berta. “Students can become more aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. Students also become aware of the resources available to assist them in terms of counseling or therapy. National Depression Screening Day and the online screening benefits students in a number of ways.”