If individuals are feeling overwhelmed with stress or depression to the point of considering suicide, talking to someone is the best relief, said Ron Jackson, staff psychologist for the ISU Student Counseling Center.

“Burdens are easier when they’re shared,” he said.

The counseling center, located on the third floor of the Student Services Building, is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

“If you really think you’d be better off dead, you need to get professional help,” Jackson said. “Death is awfully permanent.”

Student Counseling Services offers individual and group counseling sessions, and all patient information is confidential, he said.

Some warning signs of distress which may lead to suicidal thoughts include excessive sleeping, poor class attendance, crying, poor personal hygiene, isolation, not eating, a sense of hopelessness and comments about suicide, Jackson said. If a friend detects these symptoms, the best thing to do is ask, he said. While the warning signs need to be taken seriously, Jackson said, they do not necessarily indicate suicidal tendencies.

“It’s important for friends to know that everyone’s going through stress and to show you really care and are concerned,” he said. “If your friend won’t come to see a counselor, you can come talk to a counselor to talk about what you can do to help them.”

Jackson said academic stress on students is especially high with six weeks left in the semester. Taking “stress breaks,” exercising, eating healthy meals and talking to friends are ways to relieve the stress from school work, job searches, time constraints, family problems, relationship problems and other stressors, he said.

Students are encouraged to use the counseling services, Jackson said.

“I know that some people are hesitant to ask for help, because they think it shows weakness,” he said. “In reality, it shows pretty good judgment to know your limits and know when you’re working too hard to fight a situation.”