The brothers of Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) tackled the complicated subject of depression in their event, “Session of Depression,” in Butcher Suite on Tues., March 8. The brothers discussed the disorder and ways to combat depressed feelings.

Depression is a mental health disorder that can be complex to define. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines it as a mood disorder with many individual causes. At the event, students described feelings of depression due to stress, breakups, and family deaths. Other causes include co-mental health disorders like bipolar disorder or psychosis, the year’s season, or pregnancy.

AXP brother Eric Medina-Rivera came up with the idea for the event last semester when he noticed that many people expressed feelings of depression around campus. After the idea, the brothers decided this semester would give them time to reach out to the Counseling Center for its additional resources. The Counseling Center gave pamphlets about the Counseling Center and also provided back massagers and tissues to participants

AXP brothers Brian Delvecchio and Banyan McGuire, sophomore finance majors, hosted the event.

Their presentation featured symptoms of hopelessness, irritability, guilt, weight changes, and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed—similar to the symptoms listed on the NIMH website.

The brothers interacted well with the crowd and worked hard to keep the audience engaged throughout the event.

McGuire interjected throughout the presentation with his own struggle with depression. Both the brothers explained that they chose to lead in order to step up with AXP’s philanthropy efforts.

“We felt that depression would be relatable and be personal,” Delvecchio said.

In addition to the presentation and a video about the science of depression, the event opened up to all students in the audience to explain their own experiences with depression. Senior education major Shaina Weir stepped up first to tell her experiences. Weir felt depressed feelings sometimes due to loneliness, but felt comfortable enough to share in a room mainly full of her friends.

“I am at the point where I can talk about it [her depression] to people and opening up to strangers,” said Weir following her participation in the event.

The event also featured planned student speakers who read pieces of their writings that they believed highlighted their daily experience with depression.

Senior applied psychology major Allison Kress read a passage she wrote while feeling depressed and experiencing anxiety related to the depression. She then read another passage that she wrote after the feelings went away.

The speakers all made it clear that depression is not something that happens once in their lives. For the speakers, like many who suffer from depression, the feelings come and go for various time periods.

The event ended with a discussion about combatting depressed feelings. Many people, including the student speakers, explained that they believed that talking about the subject can help destigmatize it and help some feel better after expressing their feelings. While talking can help, so can distraction through art or crafting, exercising, and even medications.

For more information, students can visit the Counseling Center in the Administration Building near OSA or call the center at (914) 773-3710.