While counselors say the onset of midterms during fall semester is prime time for college students to seek help for depression or anxiety-related disorders, help is available for those with the illness.

The MSU Psychological Clinic is offering free mental health screenings from 5 to 9 p.m. today in Olds Hall in conjunction with National Depression Screening Day, an effort to raise awareness and diagnose depression symptoms.

Depression, a mental illness that affects between 17 million and 19 million Americans each year, also is one of the top three concerns for college students dealing with the transition of living away from home, academic demands, financial responsibilities and maintaining a social life.

A 2001 survey by the American College Health Association reported that only 10 percent of college students have been diagnosed with depression, although 75 percent reported symptoms.

And MSU is no different.

Chandra Grabill, a psychologist at the MSU Counseling Center, said students who are busy with midterms in the fall might be suffering with more academic problems or disagreements with their roommates or family members.

"People who are at risk of depression may be experiencing the stress of academic demands or may be socially isolated from others," she said.

Those situations can lead to or aggravate signs of depression, she said.

The illness differs from occasional sadness or mood swings and could occur when feelings of fatigue, loss of appetite, lost interest in valued activities, irritability, sleep-pattern disturbances or extreme despair last several weeks.

But many services on campus and in the East Lansing area work to provide assistance to students struggling with depression or anxiety.

The MSU Counseling Center provides students with up to 12 hours of free individual consultation sessions or assessment interviews made by appointment.

Depression episodes usually occur between the ages of 15 and 24, and there is a 50 percent higher chance a second episode could follow, Grabill said.

Valerie Shebroe, psychologist community outreach coordinator for the MSU Psychological Clinic, said some students are reluctant to take advantage of counseling services.

"There is embarrassment and a social stigma against seeking mental health services," Shebroe said.

Shebroe also said many college students resort to using drugs and alcohol to mask feelings of helplessness and insecurity.

"Alcohol initially makes students feel euphoric and uninhibited, but in the end, alcohol is a depressant," Shebroe said.

The Listening Ear Crisis Hotline provides free confidential services via telephone or for walk-in clients in crisis 24 hours a day year-round.

Sarah Cobb, crisis counselor and sexual assault counseling administrative coordinator at The Listening Ear, 313 W. Grand River Ave., estimated that of the near 100 calls per day, about 5 percent are depressed individuals.

"We are a crisis center, so we deal with short-term crises," Cobb said. "They call us if they have no resources available to get help or if they need immediate help."

Ellery Diem, crisis counselor at the hotline, said volunteers are trained to empathize with callers and listen to them with an objective view.

"People call strangers to tell them their darkest problems, and it is nice to hear a voice on the phone from someone who actually cares about them," the communication junior said.

Diem said no one should feel ashamed to admit they suffer from depression.

"Nearly two-thirds of the United States are depressed; it's a common thing," she said. "They are not alone."

Staff writer Evan Rondeau contributed to this report.