One campus counselor is asking members of the UA community to reach out to friends and coworkers who might be emotionally distressed by last week's College of Nursing shootings.

Feelings of stress or depression following such a tragedy can manifest themselves in a myriad of ways, including irritability, crying, grades falling unexpectedly and distraction, said Ken Marsh, director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

There may be problems "when you start to notice that your energy is down, you are snapping at friends or you read two pages and can't remember the first one," he said.

Marsh sent out an e-mail to the UA community Friday asking people to look for signs that they or others might be "running on empty" ÷ that they are "emotionally depleted and have nothing more to give."

Between 1,800 and 1,900 people go to CAPS seeking professional counseling each year, Marsh said. Most appointments are for depression.

CAPS has been working with many of the faculty and students from the College of Nursing this week and last, while the number of counseling appointments from others on campus hasn't changed significantly, he said.

But students, staff and faculty do not necessarily need to be "depressed" to be emotionally drained.

"Pure stress will do it," Marsh said; however, he emphasized that there is not much of a difference between the effects of stress and depression.

In his e-mail, Marsh said that there are several things that people can do to help "re-fuel," whether they are suffering from stress or depression. Sleeping, exercising, eating a healthy diet and talking with friends and loved ones are all remedies, for example, according to Marsh.

Jeff Jones, research database and applications coordinator for the Cancer Center of the Arizona Health and Sciences Center, was personally touched by Marsh's e-mail.

Jones said that there was a time in his life after he went through a difficult divorce when he felt like he was "running on empty."

"Nobody was listening to me," Jones said. "I felt very much at wit's end. I was pretty despondent."

Jones said he was able to make it through that period only with the help of his family, and that he didn't know what he would have done without them.

It is very important for people who feel like they are emotionally exhausted to "keep connected with people," Marsh said. Keeping in touch with loved ones and friends can prevent a person from spiraling further downward, Marsh said.

People often inadvertently isolate themselves from others when they are stressed or depressed, but people who notice symptoms in others can help just by reaching out, he said.

"Check in with somebody. Even if they give the usual response, ÎOh, I'm fine,' stick around and ask again."

"Being able to be to there as a listener; you don't need to solve the problem," Marsh said. "Listening can just be an immense boost for someone ÷ a boost that could be enough to get them through one more day."

People can also refer others to CAPS, at 621-3334, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is located in the Campus Health building.