Panel discusses depression and suicide among students
Jennifer DeHuff
Issue date: 11/23/04 Section: News
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11/23/04 - Members of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and the University of Rhode Island Counseling Center presented a program addressing depression and its frequent appearance in college students. A diverse panel explained the causes, symptoms and treatments available for people affected by depression.
Director of Women and Infants Postpartum Depression Day Hospital Margaret Howard, a clinical assistant professor at Brown University's Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, said that many women often suffer in silence.
"There is nothing more stigmatized in American culture than to be a new mom and have depression," she said, emphasizing that depression is an illness and needs to be treated like one.
Howard said that the Women and Infants Day Hospital has the only program in the country dedicated to mother-infant treatment.
She highlighted types of depressive illnesses, including major depressive disorder, which is characterized by symptoms of sadness, loss of pleasure, loss of energy, social withdrawal and frequent crying.
Dysthymia, a low-grade chronic depression, is typically common in people having fewer symptoms than major depression, but still requiring treatment. Bipolar disorder, often paired with manic depression, affects mood, allowing for cycles of feelings of euphoria in between feelings of depression.
"Alcohol is used as self-medication," Howard said, adding that bipolar disorder is a "complex illness that is multi-determined." She said that in many cases alcohol is common among reported suicides.
Gary Sawyer, the father of Joseph Sawyer, a suicide victim at the age of 21, spoke on how his son's death affected his family.
"On a personal basis, it's a matter of communication. Many parents struggle with how to communicate with their children," he said.
Sawyer acknowledged the relationship between depression and creativity. His son, Joseph, was the author of several pieces of artwork, which reflect the complex feelings he had throughout his life.
Director of Women and Infants Postpartum Depression Day Hospital Margaret Howard, a clinical assistant professor at Brown University's Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, said that many women often suffer in silence.
"There is nothing more stigmatized in American culture than to be a new mom and have depression," she said, emphasizing that depression is an illness and needs to be treated like one.
Howard said that the Women and Infants Day Hospital has the only program in the country dedicated to mother-infant treatment.
She highlighted types of depressive illnesses, including major depressive disorder, which is characterized by symptoms of sadness, loss of pleasure, loss of energy, social withdrawal and frequent crying.
Dysthymia, a low-grade chronic depression, is typically common in people having fewer symptoms than major depression, but still requiring treatment. Bipolar disorder, often paired with manic depression, affects mood, allowing for cycles of feelings of euphoria in between feelings of depression.
"Alcohol is used as self-medication," Howard said, adding that bipolar disorder is a "complex illness that is multi-determined." She said that in many cases alcohol is common among reported suicides.
Gary Sawyer, the father of Joseph Sawyer, a suicide victim at the age of 21, spoke on how his son's death affected his family.
"On a personal basis, it's a matter of communication. Many parents struggle with how to communicate with their children," he said.
Sawyer acknowledged the relationship between depression and creativity. His son, Joseph, was the author of several pieces of artwork, which reflect the complex feelings he had throughout his life.
