Almost a quarter of the Whitman student body used the Welty Counseling Center’s resources at some point over the course of the 2007-2008 school year, according to Dr. Richard Jacks, Associate Dean of Health and Wellness at Whitman College. Depression was the second most common issue faced by students, despite the school’s highly publicized status as having the “happiest students” nationwide.

With the recent release of the Princeton Review’s Best Colleges: 2009 Edition in July, Whitman, which in the 2008 Edition was ranked in first place for “Happiest Students”, now ranks 17th, a significant drop in rankings.

Although this drop in rankings upset a number of the Whitman community, for some, it provides a sense of relief.

“When we say that Whitman is the happiest campus it definitely puts a lot of pressure on people’s emotions because it sets a norm. [Peer Listeners] definitely heard this last year and we’re talking about working against that. Whitman is a happy campus, but that’s not a requirement of being here,” said senior Justin Daigneault, a Co-Leader of the Peer Listeners.

According to the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression, one in five people will suffer from depression at least once during their lifetime. College students are especially prone to experiencing depression, as many mental illnesses become symptomatic during young adulthood.

A report by the Mental Health Work Group on depression in college students stated, “Over
the course of a single year, one in 12 college students in the United States will make a suicide plan, and seven of every 100,000 college students die each year from suicide.”

Last spring, these statistics hit home when a Whitman student took his own life.

Whitman is creating more resources for students dealing with mental health issues. One such resource is the Depression Support Group.

Whitman’s Depression Support Group was formed at the end of last semester in response to a Peer Listeners’ survey on mental health and awareness at Whitman in which students indicated that such a support group would be beneficial to the student community.

The Support Group is completely student led and confidential. “[Its] goal is to connect students dealing with depression, allowing us to share stories, strategies, and experiences,” said junior Leah Koerper, one of the Co-Leaders of the Peer Listeners and the mediator of the group. “Depression is a very isolating and stigmatizing illness. We hope to combat that.”

“I encourage anyone dealing with depression to give this group a try. Depression is a disease of loneliness and helplessness, and coming together with others can help alleviate these feelings. As someone who has struggled with depression myself, I can attest to the power of sharing experiences,” said Koerper.

The Depression Support Group meets every other Saturday in the Spiritual Activities room in Prentiss Hall at 4 p.m. The next meeting is on October 4.