Charles P. Ducey, director of the Bureau of Study Counsel, who is also a member of the Student Health Coordinating Board, said he hoped this talk and the week of events would ensure students know about the resources available on campus.
Ducey said depression is a real problem on campus, as Jamison suggested, but warned against self-diagnosis. If students think they have a problem, they should seek help, Ducey said.
"We want to do what we can to eliminate unnecessary suffering while also helping students realize that suffering is a part of life," he said.
There will be panels in the Houses and graduate campuses over the next three days, focusing on dealing with stress and mental health.
In an effort to encourage student participation, there will be door prizes, free pizza and ice cream from Toscanini's at the different events.
Debbie A. Sorenson, a tutor in Lowell House and a third-year graduate student in psychology at GSAS, said students are not prone to talk about depression.
"It's important for them to do this week because it's not something that students usually talk about," she said. "It's taboo, but depression is not uncommon."