MONTINE RUMMEL/Arizona Daily Wildcat English freshman Kevin Chamberlain (left) looks over a form that measures depression with undecided freshman Phill Hillard. UA's Counseling and Psychological Services is providing free depression screening today.

Some might say a typical college student has an easy life, partying all the time. But for some, a much darker and depressed world is their reality.

An estimated 44.3 million people over the age of 18 suffer from a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety, according to the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Many students on campus are unaware of the signs of clinical depression, said Debra Cox-Howard, a mental health clinician at UA's Counseling and Psychological Services.

"Everybody gets a case of the blues," she said. "When it lasts longer than seven to 10 days there may be a clinical reason as to why you feel this way."

Today, as part of National Depression Screening Day, CAPS will be providing free and anonymous screening for students at 9 a.m. outside Campus Health Services.

Students are encouraged to fill out the questionnaire to see if what they are feeling is more than the typical stress and occasional upsets felt by everyone.

"We use these screenings as more of a prevention tool," Cox-Howard said. "It is free, quick and anonymous, and a counselor will be available if a student wants to talk."

Campuses around the country will be screening students with the same questionnaire distributed from Screening for Mental Health, Cox-Howard said.

"One of the reasons they target college kids is because they notice how students may be fine, move away from home and start showing signs of depression," she said.

Edward La Rosa, a biology freshman, said the added pressure of college life might lead to depression and anxiety.

"There is a lot of stress out there," La Rosa said. "Many students just might not be used to the workload of college life."

Last year 85 students filled out the mental health questionnaire, Cox-Howard said.

Anxiety problems affected 28 out of the 85 participants from last year's screening, she said. Depression came in close behind with 24 students showing signs of depression.

Adele Prior, a communication junior said it is no surprise that many students have depression at the UA.

"College is stressful," Prior said. "Students move away, sometimes they feel upset and that can evolve into depression or anxiety."

The main disorder afflicting students on campus is a fair mix between depression and anxiety problems, Cox-Howard said.

"October is our busiest month at CAPS," she said. "The first round of exams are coming up and many students get freaked out."

CAPS offers counseling for students with trained counselors and psychiatrists, Cox-Howard said.

"On average we see about 20 students per week for medical evaluations," she said. "We see about 50 or more a week for follow-up med check appointments with the psychiatrist."

The responses to the questionnaires are complied nationally, Cox-Howard said.

"We receive boatloads of information from them," she said. "We use that information to better understand our students and to design better brochures."

The screening will be held today from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the CAPS offices on the second floor of Campus Health Services, in Campus Health Services main lobby and in front of Campus Health Services.