Almost 100 students and staff members attended Issues Awareness Night Wednesday in the Marvin Center to educate themselves about stress and depression.

“This (issue) is especially important during this time of year with the stress of midterms and all the studying,” said Steven Van Wagoner, assistant professor at GW and a psychologist at the University Counseling Center.

Symptoms of depression include eating disorders, insomnia and substance abuse. Hectic class schedules, erratic study habits, poor diets and lack of sleep often contribute to or exacerbate the symptoms, Van Wagoner said.

Academic stress often leads to alcoholism, the third leading cause of death for people between ages 15 and 34, said Student Association undergraduate Sen. Alexis Rice (CSAS).

Dr. Martha Manning, an expert on clinical depression, discussed treatments for the problem.

Issues Awareness Night was sponsored by the SA, the University Counseling Center, Dining Services and the Community Living and Learning Center.

-Yohannes Demoz