Inaugural National Conference
Best Practices
and Innovative Strategies
March
6 - 7, 2003
America’s awareness of depression issues has increased in recent years, in large part due to growing openness, changes in public policy, and visible leadership. However, depression in the young is still an under-recognized problem. We now know that depression appears first in the adolescent years, which coincides with the arrivals and tenures of individuals at college. In addition, recent national events confirm that depression among college students is a major neglected public health problem (at worst, it is a key factor contributing to suicide.) Therefore, if we are to make a difference in addressing depression in our communities, we must emphasize early detection and intervention. Only this approach will prevent the progression, chronicity, recurrence, and burden of depression.
To capitalize on the increased level of awareness and interest, The University of Michigan Depression Center and The Rackham School of Graduate Studies have co-sponsored a national conference entitled “Depression on College Campuses” which took place March 6 - 7, 2003 in Ann Arbor. The conference calls attention to and works to destigmatize the issue of depression on the college campus. Keynote speakers, scientific presenters, workshops, discussions groups, and video films review the scope and consequences of the problem, discuss optimal strategies for responding, identify barriers to implementation of those strategies, and seek to formulate public policy interventions to overcome these barriers, and catalyze a coordinated, comprehensive approach.
Since the problem will only be solved if health professionals, university leaders, resident advisors and other students, preventive education specialists, third-party payers, journalists, and parents are involved, all have participated in and contributed to the conference. In addition, since widespread education and public policy changes are key strategies to improving the problem of depression, the role of the media and of the key advocacy organizations is emphasized. These groups are not separate; we need to learn from one another.
The Conference offered diverse topics for workshops and keynotes, addressing the issue from several different points of view with a focus on the practical.
Video Presentations:
Official Welcome & Scope of the Problem
Earl Lewis, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Graduate Affairs and Dean, Rackham Graduate School, University of Michigan
Paul Courant, Ph.D., Provost and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, University of Michigan
John F. Greden, M.D., Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Executive Director, University of Michigan Depression CenterDepression, Too, Is a Thing with Feathers
Andrew Solomon, Author and Mental Health AdvocateFixing College Mental Health Care: No Easy Task
Moderator: Todd Sevig, PhD, University of Michigan Counseling &
Psychological ServicesPanelists:
Richard Kadison, MD, Harvard University
Rachel Glick, MD, Associate Dean of the University of Michigan
Medical School
Marianne Udow, Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan
Patrick Corrigan, University of Chicago Center for Psychiatric
Rehabilitation
Dr. Kristine Girard, MIT University, Co-Chair of Mental Health Task Force
University of Michigan StudentThe Role of Advocacy Groups: What Are We Advocating For and How Can We Do It Together?
Moderator: John Greden, MD, Executive Director, University of Michigan Depression CenterPanelists:
Richard Birkel, Executive Director, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Martha Hellander, Executive Director, Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
Lydia Lewis, Executive Director, Depression and Bipolar Support
Alliance
Tammi Landry, Executive Director, American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention, Ann Arbor Chapter
Shari Strauss, Mentality Inc. Co-founderOn the Edge of Darkness
Kathy Cronkite, Author and Mental Health AdvocateWillow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression
Meri Nana-Ama Danquah, Author and EditorHow Do Culture and Gender Affect Students with Depression?
Moderator: Mildred Tirado, PhD, Counseling & Psychological Services,
Lecturer in Psychology & Women's Studies, former Director of CAPS/former Associate Dean of StudentsPanelists:
Meri Nana-Ama Danquah
Daniel Pak, MD, University of Michigan
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, PhD, University of Michigan Department of Psychology
Woody Neighbors, PhD, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Jonathan Metzl, MD, PhD, University of Michigan Departments of Psychiatry and Women ’s Studies
Stacey Pearson, PhD, Counseling & Psychological Services, University of Michigan
Durriya Meer, PsyD, Counseling & Psychological Services, University of MichiganConcluding Remarks & Discussion of the Future
Dean Earl Lewis
Powerpoint Presentations:
Kim Collins, PhD
University of Illinois
“How Can Colleges Better Accommodate Students with Depression?”
Powerpoint PresentationKristine Girard, MD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“Lessons from the MIT Mental Health Task Force”
Powerpoint PresentationSally Guthrie, PharmD
University of Michigan School of Pharmacy
“What We Need to Know About Herbals and Antidepressants”
Powerpoint PresentationPaul Joffe, University of Illinois
"How Can We Prevent Student Suicides?"
Powerpoint PresentationRichard Kadison, MD
Harvard University
“How Can the ‘Silo’ Systems for Referral and Treatment Be Better Coordinated?”
Powerpoint PresentationDeborah Megivern
University of Washington at St. Louis
“Major Needs for Students with Depression”
Powerpoint PresentationFred Newton, PhD & Sherry Benton, PhD
Kansas State University
“Is Depression Really That Common in College Students?”
Powerpoint Presentation
Conference Follow-up
Author Andrew Solomon reflects on depression at Depression on College Campuses Conference.
Mounting Student Depression Taxing Campus Mental Health Services (JAMA)