Students who are treated for colds at college health centers may have depression

By Staff Writer

According to research conducted by PBS, major depression affects approximately 15 million American adults - or about 8 percent of the U.S. population - age 18 and older in a given year. As a result, a growing number of researchers are aiming to identify a way to prevent teens from developing serious depression.

For example, scientists from Northwestern Medicine recently discovered that one out of every four or five students who visits their college health center for a cold may be depressed. However, most healthcare workers miss the chance to treat these young adults for mental health issues since schools are not screening for them.

The study, which is published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, found that approximately 2 to 3 percent of the depressed students had suicidal thoughts.

Michael Fleming, professor of family and community medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, suggests that depression screening should be done for every student who comes to a university health center.

According to PBS, approximately 4 percent of adolescents develop serious depression each year.