National Depression Screening Day

"Did you know that more than 15 million American adults suffer from some type of depression?" asked Dr. Anil Gandhi. "That's about 10 percent of the adult population. Unfortunately, with the economic recession and subsequent loss of jobs, the number of Americans with depression is growing." This makes the upcoming National Depression Screening Day that much more vital.

National Depression Screening Day is next Thursday, October 8. Since 1991 this event, sponsored by Screening for Mental Health, is held every year on the Thursday of Mental Illness Awareness Week. It has now grown into a program that includes screening for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, alcohol problems, and suicide prevention.

Screening for Mental Health works with local organizations throughout the United States as well as some Canadian centers to provide both in-person screening events and online screening tools to help patients identify the services they need and promote positive mental health.

Why should you consider screening? Nancy Schimelpfening, the About.com Guide to Depression, shares, "Screenings are free and completely confidential. The screening is an opportunity to learn more about anxiety and mood disorders, complete a brief screening questionnaire, and speak one-on-one with a mental health professional. If appropriate, you may be referred for a complete evaluation."

Have you participated in a National Screening Day event? What was your experience? ~Kimberly

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