Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students.

Untreated depression can lead to suicide, according to www.healthyminds.org.

To help students combat depression, the Counseling and Testing Center is hosting a free depression screening tomorrow for National Depression Screening Day.

There will be a table set up in Downing University Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Betsy Pierce, staff psychologist in the Counseling and Testing Center, is coordinating the event this year.

The depression screening is a self-administered questionnaire that checks for symptoms of depression or other related psychological disorders, Pierce said.

The screening, scoring and feedback takes less than 10 minutes.

Jason Lin, a sophomore from Guangzhou, China, plans to get screened for depression tomorrow.

Lin said that many of his friends are depressed, and they often discuss how the stresses of college contribute to it.

According to www.chinadaily.com, depression is one of the top three public health problems in China. About 5 percent of Chinese people suffer from depression.

Some warning signs of depression include a depressed mood most of the day, change in sleeping and eating patterns, lack of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities and sluggishness, Pierce said.

Associate Psychology Professor Rick Grieve has volunteered to help with depression screening for three years.

Grieve said the levels of serotonin in the brain affect mood. A person with high levels of serotonin is often in a good mood.

Pierce stressed the importance of getting screened or helped for depression.

“Clinical depression is a true illness which can be helped through therapy and/or medication,” she said. “It is not just a matter of needing to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. And there are lots of resources to provide help.”

Reach Katharine Greene at diversions@chherald.com.