Nov. 5--Chastity Enck relaxed in a massage chair in the University of Pittsburgh's Stress Free Zone as a masseur kneaded the anxiety out of her muscles.
In the background, a wide-screen television showed images of a babbling brook, mossy logs and autumn leaves strewn on boulders. The soothing strains of New Age music lightened the mood.
The free massages, yoga classes and a group of 160 students trained to listen to anxious students are part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's and Pitt's new Talk to Me campaign to relieve depression among college students. Nationally, one of every four college students will feel some form of depression by the age of 24, according to UPMC.
"(College) is really, really busy and stressful, and you don't have a lot of time for yourself," said Enck, a sophomore from Hershey. She said she is not depressed, but adds, "'Lonely' is a good word. I miss my friends and my family."
Depression is a disorder that results in persistent sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, guilt or sense of worthlessness. Symptoms may include loss of pleasure, eating or sleeping too much or too little, restlessness, lack of concentration and thoughts of death, according to medical experts.
"The point is to make sure that students suffering from depression know that there are resources out there, and it won't get to the point where they feel suicide is their only option," said Megan Miller, 21, a senior from Mechanicsburg. An intern at the counseling center, she has been trained to talk and listen to students as part of the campaign.
While student suicides on campuses are rare, they do happen. A Pitt freshman hanged himself Oct. 27 in his bathroom at Sutherland Hall -- just days after Talk to Me was launched. Carnegie Mellon University reported 11 during the past 17 years; Indiana University of Pennsylvania, at least one last year; Seton Hill University, one 10 years ago.
Mental health professionals say they are seeing an increase in the number of students who have depression as at least one issue. The disorder may be caused by a chemical imbalance or outside factors such as homesickness, academic problems, lack of money, loss of a loved one or a breakup of a relationship.
More than 30 percent of students who visited Pitt's Counseling Center during the past 10 years suffered depression; and the figure last year was about 40 percent, said James Cox, director of the center.
Ten years ago, 46 percent of the students at Carnegie Mellon University's health center showed up with depression, said Cynthia Valley, director of counseling and psychological services. Last year, it was 55 percent.
"I think the numbers have gone up over the years in part because the medication has been helping people manage the symptoms" and attend college, said Dave Meyers, a psychologist at IUP. Before, these students would have been unable to go to college.
Terri Bassi, director of Counseling and Disability and Health Services at Seton Hill University, attributes the rise in student depression in part to financial problems.
"In the past, students used to work 10 hours of work study," she said. "Now they do 10 hours of work study and a part-time or full-time job."
Bassi said students may suffer because their parents are no longer nearby to boost their self-esteem. Likewise, some high achievers in high school may have a hard time adjusting to the competitive environment of selective colleges.
The advent of technology -- personal Web pages, cell phones, texting -- places students on an "electronic leash" in their dating and other relationships, said Lisa Hamilton, director of counseling services at Washington & Jefferson.
"Those are wonderful inventions, but in some ways they create more relationship stress," she said.
Matthew Diabes, 18, a Pitt freshman from Lititz in Lancaster County, said papers submitted over the Internet have a time stamp, which adds to pressure when students know professors will see when they're sent a second late.
In addition, Diabes said, cell phones and text messaging create an unreasonable expectation of instant response. When a friend does not answer immediately, students may wonder if the friend prefers someone else.
"It creates an awkward social tension," he said. "It lets you create an intense world in your head that may not even be real."
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