BOSTON -- Schools across the country Thursday will be offering a free mental health screening after a number of highly publicized suicides and alcohol-related deaths on campuses in the past month.

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Andrew Kalloch remembers feeling overwhelmed when he came to Harvard.

"I was doing well freshman year in academics and getting involved in things. But if you're not happy you can't enjoy it, and I was not happy personally," he said.

He's not alone. In a national college survey, 44 percent of college students reported feeling depressed and 10 percent reported they seriously thought about suicide.

"The good news about the problems is they're treatable. The bad news is you've got to get students to come in and seek care which is much more challenging," Harvard Mental Health Services Dr. Richard Kadison said.

At Harvard's annual health fair Wednesday, students lined up to be screened. The questionnaires, which gauge moods and mental health, will be available on campuses nationwide tomorrow as part of National Depression Screening Day.

The college questionnaire is short, but it is an important tool in screening for four disorders -- depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Kadison, who authored a book on overwhelmed students, score the results. Students can also take it anonymously online.

"Sometimes students feel really crappy at 3 a.m. They're wondering whether they're depressed. They can do this screening, and if they score high enough they get a message flashing on the screening saying you've scored high, you really ought to go talk to someone," Kadison said.

Studies show students emotional well being goes hand in hand with academic success. Kalloch got help.

"As I sit here today, I'm very happy personally, and that makes a big difference in every aspect of the college experience," he said.

He hopes sharing his experience with depression encourages others to get help.