New depression research findings and innovative strategies for identifying and treating depression across student identity groups will be explored during the eighth annual Depression on College Campuses conference, March 10-11 at the Rackham Graduate School.

The annual, two-day event explores the ways colleges and universities can identify and implement changes needed to most effectively support their students’ mental health.

“We acknowledge depression among college students as a crucial health problem,” says Dr. John Greden, executive director of the Depression Center. “Our goal with this conference is to identify and articulate ways in which campus leaders can be more aggressive in outlining earlier detection and intervention strategies, and also in implementing student mental health programs that will prevent the progression, recurrence and burden of depression.”

The conference will feature a choice of intensive three-hour workshops in addition to keynote presentations, panel discussions and concurrent sessions.

Other area of focus for this year’s conference:

• Student outreach to diverse audiences: A panel discussion featuring students from several different campuses discussing innovative mental health outreach programs designed to reach students from diverse identity groups.

• Life Goals Collaborative Care: A Self-Management/Care Management Intervention for Bipolar Disorder.

• Mental Health First Aid: A comprehensive alternative for gatekeeper training.

• Using technology to support student emotional health.

Cost is $125 for non-students before March 1, $140 for non-students after March 1, and free for students from any campus. Register online at www.depressioncenter.org.

Representatives from mental health groups, academic advisers, counselors, nurses, physicians, university leaders and anyone else with an interest in mental health among college students are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Trish Meyer at meyerpa@umich.edu or 734-763-7495.

U-M units contributing to the conference include the Medical School, College of Engineering, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, Office of the Provost, School of Social Work, Office of the Vice President — Division of Student Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services, University Health Service, Office of the Vice President for Research, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, School of Public Health, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Law School, School of Nursing, Office of the Dean — LSA, School of Kinesiology, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, School of Information and School of Natural Resources and Environment.