Students can take anonymous mental health assessments on Student Health and Counseling's Web site.
The series of self-assessments presents questions to students regarding bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress. They are available at Shac.unm.edu.
Harry Linneman, director of Counseling Services, said the self-assessments are a new addition to the traditional links of psychiatric and counseling resources. He said the tests were not designed by SHAC.
Several universities have designed mental health screenings in an effort to prevent school violence after the shootings at Virginia Tech, but Linneman said the self-assessments on the SHAC Web site are solely a self-help resource and that students' responses are kept anonymous.
Jeremy Jaramillo, spokesman for the Agora Crisis Center, said the anonymity of the assessments allows students to seek help on their own.
"Assessments are catalysts for people to get help, and sometimes people are nervous or unsure as to (whether) they should see a professional," he said.
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Jaramillo said the assessments should not, however, be mistaken for a professional diagnosis.
After taking the surveys, if a student would like to seek help, he or she can set up an appointment with a SHAC counselor, Linneman said.
"We offer counseling, individual counseling, individual workshops on test anxiety and anger management and things like that," he said.
Aaron Smith, a junior and psychology major, said the questionnaires were short and to the point.
"I think students such as myself could benefit from these self-assessments," Smith said. "If I thought someone needed help, I would refer them."
Smith said the questions on the assessments should be more specific and that there were other symptoms of mental illness they didn't cover.
"I definitely think the assessments provide signs to look for regarding those disorders," Smith said.
Counseling Services asks students who have taken the assessments to print out the results and bring them in for an appointment.
However, Linneman said students are not required to bring in the results and will not be asked whether they have taken the online questionnaires.
"Our main goal and mission as a service is to help students succeed in school and to graduate," Linneman said. "We see the two goals as being connected, especially if students are having concerns about themselves."
