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From: jdz@wucec2.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.suicide,net.college
Subject: Re: info on depression, and helping a friend (query)
Message-ID: <1433@wucec2.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Mar-86 20:31:06 EST
Article-I.D.: wucec2.1433
Posted: Mon Mar  3 20:31:06 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Mar-86 06:33:34 EST
References: <120@phoenix.UUCP>
Reply-To: jdz@wucec2.UUCP (Jason D. Zions)
Organization: Wash. U. Center for Engineering Computing
Lines: 44
Xref: watmath net.suicide:861 net.college:1190
Summary: Professional counseling!

In article <120@phoenix.UUCP> jevans@phoenix.UUCP (Janet Evans) writes:
>A very good friend has been depressed for a while (he mentions it 
>occasionally).  Tonight he asked me for help, and I know dangerously little 
>about the subject (i.e. I'm as likely to steer him wrong as I am to help him, 
>and I don't want to screw things up further).  Two questions: Can anyone point
>me to specific texts/papers on the subject (that either of us should read),
>and can anyone make any suggestions about the specific problem (described 
>below)?  Thanks.

Firstly, I am a trained peer counselor and am on the staff of the Peer
Counseling and Resource Center at Washington University. This (I hope) implies
that I know something about the topic.

I strongly recommend that you not attempt to counsel the person yourself. I
know the temptation is strong, but your fear of "screwing up" is a realistic
one. (Not that I don't have the same fear; the training I've received just
makes it a little less likely and perhaps more easily handled)

I suggest you steer your friend to the Student Counseling Service or its
counterpart on campus. If none exists, the Health Service (or counterpart)
should be of assistance. If your school makes no provisions for care of the
mental health of its students, I'd bitch like hell at someon to find out why.

If you have a peer counseling group on campus, I suggest you not steer your
friend to them. Empathy is a large part of counseling; undergrads, no matter
how well trained, will probably have a difficult time working with a client
much older than themselves (as your friend is).

I also hope you will be careful with yourself when trying to help your friend.
Counseling depressed people is a very draining and depressing thing in and of
itself; if you do decide to help this person on your own, be sure to take care
of yourself as well.

I can't recommend any books or papers off the top of my head, especially since
our own training materials are written here by the staff of PCRC with help from
the professionals at the Student Counseling Service. If I come across any ref's
at home, I'll post again.

Good luck and be careful.
-- 
Jason D. Zions			...!{seismo,cbosgd,ihnp4}!wucs!wucec2!jdz
Box 1045 Washington University
St. Louis MO 63130  USA		(314) 889-6160
Nope, I didn't say nothing. Just random noise.